Device, system and methods for the oral delivery of therapeutic compounds

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the invention provide swallowable devices, preparations and methods for delivering drugs and other therapeutic agents within the GI tract. Particular embodiments provide a swallowable device such as a capsule for delivering drugs into the intestinal wall or other GI lumen. Embodiments also provide various drug preparations that are configured to be contained within the capsule, advanced from the capsule into the intestinal wall and degrade within the wall to release the drug to produce a therapeutic effect. The preparation can be coupled to a delivery mechanism having one or more balloons or other expandable devices which are expandable responsive to a condition in the small intestine or other GI lumen to advance the preparation out of the capsule into the intestinal wall. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for the delivery of drugs which are poorly absorbed, tolerated and/or degraded within the GI tract.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/837,025 (Attorney Docket No. 42197-715.501, now U.S. Pat. No.______), filed Mar. 15, 2013, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/532,589 (Attorney Docket No.42197-715.201), entitled “Swallowable Drug Delivery Device and Methodsof Drug Delivery” filed on Jun. 25, 2012, which is a non-provisional ofand claims benefit of U.S. Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No.61/571,641, entitled “Device, System and Methods for the Oral Deliveryof Therapeutic Compounds”, filed Jun. 29, 2011; and is also acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/978,233(Attorney Docket No. 42197-704.201) and Ser. No. 12/978,301 (AttorneyDocket No. 42197-707.201), both entitled “Swallowable Drug Delivery andMethods of Drug Delivery”, and both filed on Dec. 23, 2010, the contentsof each of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein for allpurposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention relate to swallowable drug deliverydevices. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate toswallowable delivery devices for delivering therapeutic agents to thesmall intestine.

While there has been an increasing development of new drugs in recentyears for the treatment of a variety of diseases, many includingproteins, antibodies and peptides have limited application because theycannot be given orally. This is due to a number of reasons including:poor oral toleration with complications including gastric irritation andbleeding; breakdown/degradation of the drug compounds in the stomach;and poor, slow or erratic absorption of the drug. Conventionalalternative drug delivery methods such as intravenous and intramusculardelivery have a number of drawbacks including pain and risk of infectionfrom a needle stick, requirements for the use of sterile technique andthe requirement and associated risks of maintaining an IV line in apatient for an extended period of time. While other drug deliveryapproaches have been employed such as implantable drug delivery pumps,these approaches require the semi-permanent implantation of a device andcan still have many of the limitations of IV delivery. Thus, there is aneed for an improved method for delivery of drugs and other therapeuticagents.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments provide devices, systems, kits and methods for deliveringdrugs and other therapeutic agents to various locations in the body.Many embodiments provide a swallowable device for delivering drugs andother therapeutic agents within the GI tract. Particular embodimentsprovide a swallowable device such as a capsule for delivering drugs andother therapeutic agents into the wall of the small intestine, largeintestine or other GI organ wall. Embodiments of the invention areparticularly useful for the delivery of drugs and other therapeuticagents which are poorly absorbed, poorly tolerated and/or degradedwithin the GI tract. Further, embodiments of the invention can be usedto deliver drugs and other therapeutics such as proteins, polypeptidesand antibodies which were previously only capable of or preferablydelivered by intravenous or other form of parenteral administration(e.g., intramuscular, etc.). Additionally, embodiments of the inventionare useful for achieving rapid release of a drug into the blood streamvia oral delivery.

In one aspect, a swallowable device is provided for delivering drugs orother therapeutic agent into the wall of the small or large intestine orother organ of the gastro-intestinal tract organ. The device comprises acapsule sized to be swallowed and pass through the gastro-intestinaltract, a deployable aligner positioned within the capsule for aligning alongitudinal axis of the capsule with the a longitudinal axis of thesmall intestine, a delivery mechanism for delivering the therapeuticagent into the intestinal wall and a deployment member for deploying atleast one of the aligner or the delivery mechanism. The capsule wall isdegradable by contact with liquids in the GI tract but also may includean outer coating or layer which only degrades in the higher pH's foundin the small intestine, and serves to protect the underlying capsulewall from degradation within the stomach before the capsule reaches thesmall intestine at which point the drug delivery is initiated bydegradation of the coating. In use, such materials allow for thetargeted delivery of a therapeutic agent in a selected portion of theintestinal tract such as the small intestine. Suitable outer coatingscan include various enteric coatings such as various co-polymers ofMethacrylic Acid and Ethyl Acrylate.

In many embodiments, the capsule is formed from two portions such as abody and a cap, where the cap which fits onto the body, e.g., by fittingsliding over or under the body. One portion such as the cap can beconfigured to degrade above a first pH (e.g., pH 5.5) and the secondportion can be configured to degrade above a second higher pH (e.g.6.5). This allows for triggers and/or mechanisms in one portion of thecapsule to be actuated before those in the other portion of the capsulebecause intestinal fluids will first enter those portions where thelower pH coating has degraded thus actuating triggers which areresponsive to such fluids (e.g., degradable valves). In use, suchembodiments provides several benefits to the drug delivery processincluding an enhanced degree of locational specificity for drug deliveryand improved reliability for such delivery. This is due to the fact thatdeployment of a particular sub-mechanism, such as the aligner, can beginin the upper area of the small intestine SI allowing the capsule to bealigned within the intestine for optimal delivery as well as allowingsufficient time for deployment/actuation of other mechanisms to achievedrug delivery into the intestinal wall while the capsule is still in thesmall intestine or other selected location.

In addition to having degradable cap and body section, selectableportions of the capsule can be configured to allow the entire device tocontrollably degrade into smaller pieces. Such embodiments facilitatepassage and excretion of the devices through GI tract. In particularembodiments, the capsule can include seams of biodegradable materialwhich controllably degrade to produce capsule pieces of a selectablesize and shape to facilitate passage through the GI tract. The seams canbe pre-stressed, perforated or otherwise treated to acceleratedegradation. The seams can also be so treated so to allow the capsule tobe broken apart into smaller pieces by the forces applied from expansionof the balloon or other expandable member. In other embodiments forproducing capsule degradation after deployment of the tissue penetratingmembers, the capsule can be comprise two halves or other fractionalsections which are mechanically fit together, e.g., by a snap fit andthus readily separated by the forces applied from balloon inflation.

The aligner will typically comprise an expandable balloon known as analigning balloon which can be fabricated from various polymers known inthe medical device arts. The aligning balloon serves to extend thelength of the capsule when the aligning balloon is inflated such thatthe capsule aligns in a parallel fashion with the longitudinal axis ofthe small intestine. Further, the aligning balloon can have an inflatedshape and length such that when inflated, forces exerted by theperistaltic contractions of the intestine on the extended capsule serveto align the capsule in a parallel fashion with the longitudinal axis ofthe small intestine. Suitable shapes can include an elongated hotdoglike shape. Suitable lengths can include a range between about ½ to twotimes the length of the capsule. For embodiments where the deploymentengine includes use of a deploying balloon and chemical reactants, thealigning balloon is fluidically coupled to the deployment balloon suchthat expansion of the deploying balloon serves to expand the aligningballoon. In some embodiments, the aligning balloon can contain thechemical reactants which react upon mixture with water or other liquidfrom the deploying balloon. In addition to performing an alignmentfunction, inflation of the aligning balloon can also serve to push outvarious components of the device contained within capsule such as thedelivery. In use, such configurations improve the reliability fordelivery of the therapeutic agent since it is not necessary to wait forparticular portions of the capsule overlying the delivery mechanism tobe degraded before drug delivery can occur.

In many embodiments, the deployment member will comprise an expandableballoon, known as the deployment balloon, that is fluidically coupled tothe aligner balloon by means of a connector tube and a pH degradablevalve which is responsive to the higher pH's found in the intestinalfluids. In this application when the term “fluidically coupled” isapplied to two or more elements it means that those two or more elementsare connected in such a way that fluid transport is possible between theelements is possible, for example, by active pumping or passive flow. Inthe deployed state, the deployment balloon can have a dome shape whichcorresponds to the shape of an end of the capsule. In many embodiments,the deployment balloon in combination with the aligner balloon cancomprise a deployment engine, where the deployment balloon containsliquid water and the aligner balloon contains at least one chemicalreactant that reacts to produce a gas in the presence of water, which inturn expands the aligner balloon. The reactants will typically includeat least two reactants for example, an acid such as citric acid and abase such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, which can haveabout a 1:2 ratio, though other ratios are also contemplated. Otherreactants including other acids, e.g., ascetic acid and bases are alsocontemplated. When the valve or other separation means opens, thereactants mix in the liquid and produce a gas such as carbon dioxidewhich expands the aligner balloon or other expandable member.

In one alternative embodiment, the deployment balloon can actuallycomprise two balloons connected by a connecting tube or other connectionmeans having a degradable valve that is pH responsive. The two balloonscan each have a half dome shape allowing them to fit into the endportion of the capsule when in the expanded state. One balloon cancontain the chemical reactant(s) (e.g., sodium bicarbonate, citric acid,etc.) and the other the liquid water, so that when the valve is degradedthe two components mix to form a gas (e.g., carbon dioxide) whichinflates both balloons/compartments and in turn, the aligning balloon.In these embodiments the deployment engine comprises the two deploymentballoons. In yet another alternative embodiment, the deployment ballooncan include at least a first and a second portion or compartment whichare separated by a separation valve or other separation means. Water,can be disposed within the first compartment and the chemical reactantsin the other. When the valve or other separation means opens, thereactants mix in the liquid and produce a gas which is used to expandthe aligning balloon and the deployment balloon. In various embodimentsusing chemical reactants, the chemical reactants alone in combinationwith the deployment balloon can comprise a deployment engine fordeploying one or both of the aligning balloon (or other aligner) or thedelivery mechanism. Other forms of a deployment engine are alsocontemplated such as use of expandable piezo-electric materials (thatexpand by application of a voltage), springs and other shape memorymaterials and various thermally expandable materials.

Various embodiments of the valve which separates the aligning balloonfrom the deployment balloon can be configured to open in a number ofways and responsive to a number of conditions. Typically, the valve willbe configured to open by having one or more portions degrade in responseto the higher pH found in intestinal fluids and may be fabricated fromvarious enteric materials known in the art such as various co-polymersof methacylic acid and co-ethyl acrylate described herein. In otherembodiments, including those where the deployment balloon contains thechemical reactants, the valve can be configured to open in response to aselected pressure so as to allow the gas from the deployment balloon toinflate the aligning balloon. Similarly, the same or related embodimentsof such a pressure sensitive valve can be used to provide for inflationof the delivery balloon upon the development of sufficient pressure inthe aligning balloon so that a serial inflation effect is achieved. Inan alternative or additional embodiment, the valve may also beconfigured to open in response to compressive forces applied by aperistaltic contraction within the small intestine. In still anotherapproach, the valve may be a time release valve configured to open aftera certain period of time after an activation step initiated by thepatient such as the pealing of a tab or pressing of a button.

Embodiments of the delivery mechanism will typically comprise anexpandable member such as an expandable balloon (known as the deliveryballoon) that is fluidically coupled to the aligning balloon and adelivery assembly that is coupled to a wall of the delivery balloon. Atleast one tissue penetrating member (TPM) is coupled to the deliverydevice. In various embodiments, the delivery balloon can have anelongated shape with two relatively flat faces connected by anarticulated accordion-like body. The flat faces can be configured topress against the intestinal wall upon expansion of the balloon so as toinsert the TPM into the intestinal wall. TPM's can be positioned on oneor both faces to allow insertion of drug containing TPMs on oppositesides of the intestinal wall. The faces may have sufficient surface areato allow for placement of a number of drug containing tissue penetratingmembers on each face.

The TPM contains the drug or other therapeutic agent and is configuredto be inserted into the intestinal wall by expansion of the deliveryballoon or other expandable delivery means. The TPM typically, comprisesa shaft including a proximal portion detachably coupled to the deliverydevice, a tissue penetrating distal portion and a retaining feature forretaining the tissue penetrating member within the intestinal wall.However, in some embodiments the TPM need not include the retainingfeature, but instead can have shape or otherwise be configured to beretained in the intestinal wall without the retaining feature. The TPMis described in further detail below.

In many embodiments, the delivery mechanism device comprises a deliverystructure coupled to delivery balloon or other expandable deployingmember. In one embodiment, the delivery structure has an open boxstructure including side walls and a bottom wall which collectivelydefines a cavity. The delivery balloon or other delivery member mayinclude multiple carrying structures so as to place TPMs in multiplelocations of the intestinal wall. In embodiments of the delivery balloonhaving an accordion-like shape on or more carrying structures can beplaced on each of face of the delivery balloon. The carrying structurecan have a unitary construction and may be fabricated using vacuumforming. The bottom wall is attached to the expandable member forexample by an adhesive. An advancement structure is positioned in thecavity and includes one or more tissue penetrating members detachablycoupled to the advancement structure. A protective penetrable film iscoupled to the side walls and covering the cavity. The protective filmseals the tissue penetrating members inside the advancement structureand serves as a protective barrier for the TPM to protect them fromexposure to humidity and oxidation. In use, this film provides anadditional level of protection for preventing the therapeutic agent frombeing degraded within the intestinal tract before it is delivered intothe intestinal wall. The film also serves to extend the shelf life ofthe therapeutic agent preparation by protecting the preparation fromexposure to moisture and oxidation.

The TPM is formed at least in part from a therapeutic agent preparationincluding a drug or other therapeutic agent that is configured todissolve or otherwise be absorbed within the intestinal wall so as todeliver the therapeutic agent preparation to the patient's blood stream.The therapeutic agent preparation may also include one or morepharmaceutical excipients known in the art, e.g., disintegrints, bindersetc. The TPM is desirably configured to penetrate a selected distanceinto the intestinal wall so as to deliver therapeutic agent to aparticular tissue layer of the intestinal wall, for example the mucosallayer, submucosal layer, etc. This can be achieved through the use ofstops positioned on the TPM shaft and/or configuring the TPM shaft tobend or even shear once it penetrates a selected distance in theintestinal wall.

Typically, the drug or other therapeutic agent delivered by the TPM willbe mixed in with a biodegradable polymer such as PGLA and/or a sugarsuch as maltose. In such embodiments, the TPM may comprise asubstantially heterogeneous mixture of drug and biodegradable polymer.Alternatively, the penetrating member may include a portion formedsubstantially from biodegradable polymer and a separate section orcompartment that is formed from or contains the drug or othertherapeutic agent. For example, in one embodiment the TPM may comprisean outer shell of biodegradable material with a hollow core which isfitted with a slug (e.g., cylinder shaped) of the therapeutic agent. Thetip or tissue penetrating portion of the TPM can include a hardermaterial such as a sugar so as to be able to readily penetrate tissue.Once placed in intestinal wall, the tissue penetrating member isdegraded by the interstitial fluids within the wall tissue, the drugdissolves in those fluids and is absorbed into the blood stream by thecapillaries in or around the intestinal wall tissue. The TPM will alsotypically include one or more tissue retaining features such as a barbor hook to retain the penetrating member within the tissue of theintestinal wall after advancement. The retaining features can bearranged in various patterns to enhance tissue retention such as two ormore barbs symmetrically distributed around the member shaft. However,the TPM can also be retained in the intestinal through other means suchas by a reverse taper or other shape. The reverse taper shape may alsobe combined with one or more retaining features to further enhanceretention.

The drug or other therapeutic agent can be in solid form and then formedinto the shape of the tissue penetrating member using molding or otherlike method or may be in solid or liquid form and then added to thebiodegradable polymer in liquid form with the mixture then formed intothe TPM using molding or other forming method known in the polymer arts.Desirably, embodiments of the tissue penetrating member comprising adrug and degradable polymer are formed (e.g., cured) at temperatureswhich do not produce any substantial thermal degradation of the drugincluding drugs such as various peptides and proteins. This can beachieved through the use of room-temperature curing polymers and roomtemperature molding and solvent evaporation techniques known in the art.In particular embodiments, the amount of thermally degraded drug withinthe tissue penetrating member is desirably less than about 10% byweight, more preferably less than 5% and still more preferably, lessthan 1%. The thermal degradation temperatures for a particular drug areknown or can be determined using methods known in the art and then thistemperature can be used to select and adjust the particular polymerprocessing methods (e.g., molding, curing. solvent evaporation etc.).

For various embodiments of the invention wherein one or more of thealigner, deployment member, delivery member comprises an expandableballoon, the balloon can have material properties and dimensions (e.g.,wall thickness) allowing the balloon to be wrapped (or otherwisedisposed in the capsule) so as to occupy reduced/minimal space.Accordingly, various embodiments of expandable balloons used by theinvention can be thin walled e.g., less than about 0.001 inches and cancomprise various non compliant polymers known in the art such as PET,polyethylene and polyimide.

One or more embodiments of the expandable balloons will also typicallyinclude a deflation valve which serves to deflate the balloon afterinflation. The Deflation valve can comprise biodegradable materialswhich are configured to degrade upon exposure to the fluids in the smallintestine and/or liquid in one of the compartments of the balloon so asto create an opening or channel for escape of gas within balloon. Inparticular embodiments, the deflation valve comprises a tube valveattached to the end of the delivery balloon (opposite to the end whichis coupled to the aligner balloon). The tube valve comprises a hollowtube having an end portion filled with a material such as maltose thatdegrades upon exposure to fluid such as the fluid in the smallintestine. The positioning of the obstructing material in the tube valveis configured to provide sufficient time for the delivery balloon toinflate and deliver the tissue penetrating members into the intestinalwall before the obstructing material dissolves to open the tube valve.According to one or more embodiments, once the deflation valve opens, itnot only serves to deflate the delivery balloon but also the alignerballoon and deployment balloon since in many embodiments, all three arefludicially connected. Opening of the deflation valve can be facilitatedby placing it on the end of the delivery balloon that is forced out ofthe capsule by inflation of the aligner balloon so that it has goodexposure to liquids in the small intestine. Similar tube deflationvalves can also be positioned on one or both of aligner balloon and thedeployment balloon. In these later two cases, the obstructing materialin the tube valve can be configured to degrade over a time period toallow sufficient time for inflation of the delivery balloon.

Additionally, as further backup for insuring balloon deflation, one ormore puncture elements can be attached to the inside surface of thecapsule wall such that when one or more balloons used in embodiments ofthe invention fully inflate they contact and be punctured by thepuncture element. In another alternative or additional embodiment of ameans for deflation of the delivery balloon, one or more of the tissuepenetrating members can be directly coupled to the delivery balloon andare configured to tear away from the balloon when they detach, tearingthe balloon wall in the process. In yet another alternative one or moretissue penetrating members on the delivery assembly and/or otherwiseattached to the delivery balloon can be configured to puncture one orboth of the delivery balloon and the aligner balloon upon inflation ofthe delivery balloon.

Another aspect of the inventions provides therapeutic agent preparationsfor delivery into the wall of the small intestine (or other wall of alumen in the intestinal tract) using embodiments of the swallowabledevice described herein. The preparation comprises a therapeuticallyeffective dose of at least one therapeutic agent (e.g., insulin,incretin, an anti-seizure compound, NSAIDs, an antibiotic etc). Thepreparation may comprise a solid, liquid, gel and combinations thereofand can include one or more pharmaceutical excipients. The preparationhas a shape and material consistency to be contained in the swallowablecapsule, delivered from the capsule into the lumen wall and degradewithin the lumen wall to release the dose of therapeutic agent.Typically, this shape and material consistency are achieved by placingor forming the preparation into one or more embodiments of the tissuepenetrating members described herein. The preparation may also have aselectable surface area to volume ratio so as enhance or otherwisecontrol the rate of degradation of the preparation in the wall of thesmall intestine or other body lumen. The dose of the drug or othertherapeutic agent in the preparation can be titrated downward from thatwhich would be required for conventional oral delivery methods so thatpotential side effects from the drug can be reduced.

One embodiment of the invention is directed to a swallowable device fordelivering a therapeutic agent into an intestinal wall of a patient'sintestinal tract. The swallowable device comprises a swallowable capsulesized to pass through the intestinal tract, the capsule having a capsulewall, at least a portion of which degrades upon exposure to a selectedpH in an intestine while protecting the capsule wall from degradation ina stomach of the patient. The swallowable device also comprises at leastone expandable member assembly disposed within the capsule comprising afirst compartment and a second compartment separated by a degradablevalve. The degradable valve typically comprises an O-ring positionedover a dissolvable pinch valves. The dissolvable pinch valve typicallycomprises a disk or a volume of a degradable valve material. Thedegradable valve material is typically configured to dissolve at aselected pH in the intestine. The force of the O-ring coupled with thepresence of the degradable valve material pinches the expandable memberassembly to separate the first and the second compartments. Dissolvingor degrading the degradable valve material in the intestine stops thevalve from pinching the expandable member assembly. The firstcompartment may be initially in at least a partially non expanded state.The second compartment may be initially in at least a partially nonexpanded state. The expandable member assembly may be a balloon.Compartments of the expandable member assembly may be portions of theballoon. For the purposes of this application the terms “balloon” and“expandable member” may be used interchangeably. Typically a liquid willbe disposed in one of the compartments for the expandable memberassembly while a reactant is disposed in the other compartment of theexpandable member assembly. When the valve degrades the liquid and thereactant are allowed to mix. The liquid itself may be a reactant. Asdescribed in other embodiments the liquid and reactant may comprise andacid and base citric acid and as potassium bicarbonate. Upon mixing ofthe liquid and the reactant a chemical reaction takes place thatproduces a gas. The gas may be CO₂ or another inert or otherwisebiocompatible gas. The gas inflates at least the second compartment ofthe expandable member assembly. The gas may also inflate the othercompartment(s) of the expandable member assembly. The swallowable devicefurther comprises a delivery mechanism the delivery mechanism istypically coupled to the wall of the second compartment. The swallowabledevice also comprises at least one tissue penetrating member. The tissuepenetrating member comprising at least a proximal portion detachablycoupled to the delivery mechanism, a tissue penetrating distal portion,and a therapeutic preparation for delivery into the intestinal wall ofthe patient. The tissue penetrating member may be configured to beretained in the intestinal wall. The tissue penetrating member istypically also configured to degrade in intestinal wall, therebyreleasing a therapeutic agent composition. Upon expansion of the secondcompartment the at least one tissue penetrating member is advanced intothe intestinal wall by the delivery mechanism where it is retained inthe intestinal wall so as to deliver the therapeutic agent into theintestine. The delivery mechanism may comprise at least onepiston-cylinder assembly. The at least one piston-cylinder assembly istypically disposed inside the second compartment of the expandablemember assembly.

A piston-cylinder assembly typically comprises a piston slidablydisposed in a cylinder. The cylinder may be coupled to the wall of acompartment of the expandable member assembly. Typically the cylinder iscoupled to the wall of the second compartment of the expandable memberassembly. An adhesive joint can be used to couple the cylinder to thewall of the expandable member assembly. The interface between the pistonand cylinder is typically sealed with a piston O-ring. The pistontypically has a proximal face exposed to an interior of the secondcompartment. Typically the cylinder has a distal portion coupled to thewall of the second compartment such that a lumen of the cylinder is incommunication with an exterior of the second compartment and such thatthe lumen of the cylinder is sealed off from the interior of the secondcompartment by the piston O-ring. The lumen of the cylinder may be incommunication with the exterior of the second compartment via a needlelumen typically sized with a diameter less than that of the cylinder.The needle lumen provides access to the exterior of the secondcompartment. The piston is adapted to slide inside the cylinder towardsthe wall of the second compartment. The piston is configured to advancethe tissue penetrating member into the intestinal wall as it slidesinside the cylinder. In some embodiments the tissue penetrating memberis disposed inside the needle lumen and coupled to the piston via apiston rod sized to slide inside the needle lumen. Sliding motion of thepiston advances the tissue penetrating member out of the needle lumeninto the exterior of the expandable member assembly and into theintestinal wall. Typically, the gas produced by the mixture of theliquid and the reactant drives the piston through the cylinder.

The piston-cylinder assembly may further comprise a pressure sensitiverelease or latch. The pressure sensitive release (or latch) isconfigured to prevent the piston from sliding inside the cylinder untila specified pressure is reached inside the second compartment (e.g., bygeneration of the gas or other pressure generating means).

The swallowable device may further comprise a means of alignmentconfigure to align a long axis of the balloon with a long axis of theintestine. Such a means of alignment may comprise a deployable alignersuch as those describe elsewhere in this application. The means ofalignment may also be a shape of the swallowable device. The shape maybe that of an elongate pill or a hot dog shape, the shape having anaspect ratio and size scale sufficient to naturally align theswallowable device long axis with the long axis of the intestine as theswallowable device proceeds through the patient's intestinal tract.

The swallowable device may further comprise a means of piston-cylinderassembly alignment, configured to align the piston-cylinder assemblysuch that the long axis of the cylinder is oriented perpendicular to thesurface of the intestinal wall so that the tissue penetrating member isadvanced perpendicularly into the intestinal wall. In some embodiments along axis of the piston-cylinder assembly defined by the long axis ofthe cylinder is initially aligned with the long axis of the swallowabledevice. Upon inflation of the second compartment of the expandablemember assembly the piston-cylinder assembly is realigned such that thelong axis of the piston cylinder assembly is perpendicular to the longaxis of the swallowable device. In this alignment the long axis of thepiston-cylinder assembly is also perpendicular to the intestinal wall.Such means for piston-cylinder assembly alignment may comprise alignerballoons described elsewhere in this application. In some embodimentssuch means for piston-cylinder assembly alignment comprise apre-stressed portion of the wall of the second compartment of theexpandable member assembly to which the piston-cylinder assembly iscoupled to via an adhesive joint. When the adhesive joint is made thesecond compartment may be inflated and the alignment of thepiston-cylinder assembly long axis may be perpendicular to the wall ofthe second compartment. After the joint is made the piston cylinderassembly is forced into alignment with the long axis of the swallowabledevice and the second compartment of the expandable member is deflated.In the deflated condition the piston-cylinder assembly lacks the freedomof mobility to align itself perpendicularly to the long axis of theswallowable device. Thereby, a pre-stressed condition is created suchthat when the second compartment is inflated later during use thepiston-cylinder assembly will naturally re-align itself in aperpendicular fashion to the long axis of the swallowable device and theintestinal wall.

In some embodiments the needle lumen providing access to the exterior ofthe second compartment of the expandable member assembly may have acovering or a film. This covering or film prevents the tissuepenetrating member disposed within from advancing out of the deliverymechanism until sufficient pressure has been achieve, inside the secondcompartment of the expandable member, such that the piston suppliesenough force to advance the tissue penetrating member through the filmor covering.

In some embodiment the delivery mechanism comprises an array ofpiston-cylinder assemblies each configured to advance a tissuepenetrating member into the intestinal wall. The array ofpiston-cylinder assemblies may share a common inflation manifoldconfigured to direct gas to each piston of the array of piston-cylinderassemblies. The common manifold may have a central lumen incommunication with each piston of the array. The central lumen of thecommon inflation manifold may be coupled to a dedicated inflationballoon wherein, a chemical reaction produces a gas to pressurize thecommon inflation manifold thereby driving each cylinder of the array, inorder to advance multiple tissue penetrating members. Eachpiston-cylinder assembly of the array may have an independent pressurerelease latch, each configured to prevent movement of the piston in thecylinder until a specified pressure is reached in the common inflationmanifold. The pressure release latches may permit movement of the pistonat different specified pressures in order to control the timing ofadvancement of the tissue penetrating members.

Embodiments of the swallowable device may further comprise a deflationvalve assembly configure to deflate the expandable member assembly afterdelivery of the therapeutic agent. The deflation valve assembly maycomprise an O-ring surrounding a dissolvable pinch valve. The pinchvalve isolating a opening in the expandable member assembly that wouldallow gas trapped therein to escape. The dissolvable pinch valve isconfigured to dissolve in the intestinal tract at a point in time afterthe delivery of the therapeutic agent. Upon dissolution of the pinchvalve the opening in the expandable member assembly is no longerisolated and the gas trapped within the expandable member assembly isfree to escape thereby deflating the expandable member assembly.

In some embodiment the delivery mechanism comprises a deliverycompartment coupled to a delivery balloon or an expandable memberassembly. In the above embodiments the delivery balloon is equivalent tothe second compartment of the expandable member assembly. It should beunderstood that this embodiment of the delivery mechanism may becombined with any of the embodiments of the swallowable device presentedherewith. It should be understood that “delivery balloon” isinterchangeable with “expandable member assembly” or any portion thereofsuch as the “second compartment of the expandable member assembly.” Thedelivery balloon is inflated by a chemical reaction producing a gaswithin. The delivery compartment comprises an upper portion facing alower portion. The upper portion is typically in an abutted conditionwith the intestinal wall. The lower portion being coupled to thedelivery balloon and having one or more tissue penetrating membersdisposed thereon directed towards the upper portion of the deliverycompartment. The upper portion of the delivery compartment has one ormore puncture needles disposed thereon directed towards the lowerportion of the delivery compartment. Upon inflation of the deliveryballoon, the pressure inside the delivery balloon forces the upperportion and the lower portion of the delivery compartment towards eachother. The one or more tissue penetrating members are driven through theupper portion into the intestinal wall. The penetrating members may havedistal portions containing the therapeutic agent preparation configuredto break away and remain in the intestinal wall. The upper portion ofthe delivery compartment may have one or more apertures arranged toallow passage of the tissue penetrating members. The puncture needlespenetrate the lower portion of the delivery compartment and the deliveryballoon thereby facilitating the deflation of the delivery balloon.Typically, the one or more tissue penetrating members have lengths thatare longer than the penetrating members. Preferably, the one or moretissue penetrating members are long enough relative to the one or morepuncture members such that the one or more tissue penetrating membersare driven into the intestinal wall before the delivery balloon isinflated. The lower portion of the delivery compartment may befabricated to only allow puncture by the one or more puncture membersafter a desired pressure has been achieved in the delivery balloon. Thismay be done by fabricating the lower portion of the delivery compartmentwith a material of appropriate puncture resistance or by adjusting athickness of the lower portion.

One aspect of the invention pertains to a method for delivering atherapeutic agent preparation into an intestinal wall of a patient'sintestinal tract. The method comprises providing a swallowable capsulesized to pass through the intestinal tract. The capsule having a capsulewall at least a portion of which degrades upon exposure to a selected pHin an intestine while protecting the capsule wall from degradation in astomach of the patient. The swallowable capsule may also have at leastone expandable member assembly disposed within the capsule. Theexpandable member assembly comprises a first compartment in at least apartially non-expanded state, a second compartment in at least apartially non-expanded state, wherein the first and second compartmentsare fluidically separated by a degradable valve which degrades uponexposure to fluid in the intestinal tract. The method further comprisesdegrading the degradable valve with fluid in the intestinal tractthereby allowing a liquid contained in one of the compartments to mixwith a reactant contained in the other compartment. A gas is theproduced by the reaction of the liquid and the reactant. An examplereaction would involve combining citric acid (liquid) and potassiumbicarbonate (reactant) to produce CO₂ gas. The gas inflates at least thesecond compartment of the expandable member assembly. The method thenfurther comprises orienting a cylinder piston assembly disposed insidethe expandable member assembly, the cylinder-piston assembly comprising:a piston slidably disposed inside a cylinder, an interface between thepiston and cylinder sealed with an O-ring. The cylinder may be coupledto the wall of the second compartment and may be in communication with aneedle lumen. The needle lumen provides access to the exterior of thesecond compartment. The cylinder-piston assembly is oriented such thatthe needle lumen is perpendicular to the intestinal wall. The needlelumen, being in communication with the cylinder is typically alignedwith the cylinder. The piston is driven inside the cylinder towards theexterior of the second compartment with pressure from the gas. Thisdrives a tissue penetrating member disposed in the needle lumen into theintestinal wall. The driving is accomplished by coupling the piston tothe tissue penetrating member with a piston rod, the piston rod sized tobe slidable inside the needle lumen. The tissue penetrating membercomprises at least the therapeutic agent preparation.

Another aspect of the invention provides methods for the delivery ofdrugs and the therapeutic agents into the walls of the GI tract usingembodiments of the swallowable drug delivery devices. Such methods canbe used for the delivery of therapeutically effective amounts of avariety of drugs and other therapeutic agents. These include a number oflarge molecule peptides and proteins which would otherwise requireinjection due to chemical breakdown in the stomach e.g., growth hormone,parathyroid hormone, insulin, interferons (for treatment of MS and otherconditions) and other like compounds. Suitable drugs and othertherapeutic agents which can be delivered by embodiments of inventioninclude various antibodies (e.g., HER 2 antibodies), chemotherapeuticagents (e.g., interferon), insulin and related compounds for treatingdiabetes, glucagon like peptides (e.g., GLP-1, exenatide), parathyroidhormones, growth hormones (e.g., IFG and other growth factors), immunesuppression agents (e.g., cyclosporines, cortisones, etc), vaccines andanti parasitic agents such as various anti malarial agents. In specificembodiments, embodiments of the swallowable capsule can be used todelivery therapeutically effective amounts of the monoclonal antibodyadalimumab for the treatment of various autoimmune related disorderssuch as rheumatoid arthritis. The dosage of this or particulartherapeutic agent can be titrated for the patient's weight, age,condition or other parameter.

In various method embodiments of the invention, embodiments of theswallowable drug delivery device can be used to deliver a plurality ofdrugs for the treatment of multiple conditions or for the treatment of aparticular condition (e.g., a mixture of protease inhibitors fortreatment HIV AIDs). In use, such embodiments allow a patient to forgothe necessity of having to take multiple medications for a particularcondition or conditions. Also, they provide a means for facilitatingthat a regimen of two or more drugs is delivered and absorbed into thesmall intestine and thus, the blood stream at about the same time. Dueto differences in chemical makeup, molecular weight, etc, drugs can beabsorbed through the intestinal wall at different rates, resulting indifferent pharmacokinetic distribution curves. Embodiments of theinvention address this issue by injecting the desired drug mixtures atabout the same time. This in turn, improves the pharmacokinetics andthus, the efficacy of the selected mixture of drugs.

Further details of these and other embodiments and aspects of theinvention are described more fully below, with reference to the attacheddrawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a lateral viewing showing an embodiment of a swallowable drugdelivery device.

FIG. 1B is a lateral viewing showing an embodiment of a system includinga swallowable drug delivery device.

FIG. 1C is a lateral viewing showing an embodiment of a kit including aswallowable drug delivery device and a set of instructions for use.

FIG. 1D is a lateral viewing showing an embodiment of a swallowable drugdelivery device including a drug reservoir.

FIG. 1E is a lateral viewing illustrating use of an embodiment of aswallowable drug delivery device including transit of device in the GItract and operation of the device to deliver drug.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are lateral view illustrating an embodiment of a capsulefor the swallowable drug delivery device including a cap and a bodycoated with pH sensitive biodegradable coatings, FIG. 2A shows thecapsule in an unassembled state and FIG. 2B in an assembled state.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate embodiments of unfolded multi balloonassemblies containing a deployment balloon, an aligner balloon, adelivery balloon and assorted connecting tubes; FIG. 3A shows anembodiment of the assembly for a single dome configuration of thedeployment balloon; and FIG. 3B shows an embodiment of the assembly fordual dome configuration of the deployment balloon;

FIG. 3C is a perspective views illustrating embodiments of a nestedballoon configuration which can be used for one or more embodiments ofthe balloons described herein including the aligner balloon.

FIGS. 4A-4C are lateral views illustrating embodiments of a multicompartment deployment balloon; FIG. 4A shows the balloon in anon-inflated state with the separation valve closed; FIG. 4B shows theballoon with valve open and mixing of the chemical reactants; and FIG.4C shows the balloon in an inflated state.

FIGS. 5A-5G are lateral views illustrating a method for folding of themultiple balloon assembly, the folding configuration in each figureapplies to both single and dual dome configurations of the deploymentballoon, with the exception that FIG. 5C, pertains to a folding stepunique to dual dome configurations; and FIG. 5D, pertains to the finalfolding step unique to dual dome configurations; FIG. 5E, pertains to afolding step unique to single dome configurations; and

FIGS. 5F and 5G are orthogonal views pertaining to the final foldingstep unique to single dome configurations.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are orthogonal views illustrating embodiments of thefinal folded multi balloon assembly with the attached delivery assembly.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are orthogonal transparent views illustratingembodiments of the final folded multi balloon assembly inserted into thecapsule.

FIG. 8A is a side view of an embodiment of the tissue penetratingmember.

FIG. 8B is a bottom view of an embodiment of the tissue penetratingmember illustrating placement of the tissue retaining features.

FIG. 8C is a side view of an embodiment of the tissue penetrating memberhaving a trocar tip and inverted tapered shaft.

FIG. 8D is a side view of an embodiment of the tissue penetrating memberhaving a separate drug containing section.

FIGS. 8E and 8F are side views showing assembly of an embodiment of atissue penetrating member having a shaped drug containing section. FIG.8E shows the tissue penetrating member and shaped drug section prior toassembly; and FIG. 8F after assembly.

FIG. 9 provides assorted views of the components and steps used toassemble an embodiment of the delivery assembly.

FIGS. 10A-10I provides assorted views illustrating a method of operationof swallowable device to deliver medication to the intestinal wall.

FIG. 11A shows an embodiment of a swallowable drug delivery deviceincluding a capsule having bio-degradable seams positioned to producecontrolled degradation of the capsule in the GI tract.

FIG. 11B shows the embodiment of FIG. 11A after having been degraded inthe GI tract into smaller pieces.

FIG. 12A-B show an embodiment of a capsule having a piston-cylinderassembly.

FIG. 12C shows an embodiment of a delivery mechanism having an array ofpiston-cylinder assemblies.

FIG. 12D shows an embodiment of a capsule having a piston-cylinderassembly and a deflation valve.

FIG. 13A shows an embodiment of a delivery mechanism having deliveryballoon and a delivery compartment.

FIG. 13B depicts a balloon inflation pressure curve including a puncturepressure at which the puncture needles puncture the balloon.

FIG. 14 shows an embodiment of a capsule having biodegradable seamsincluding pores and/or perforations to accelerate biodegradation of thecapsule.

FIGS. 15A-15B, show an embodiment of a capsule having tearable seamsarranged in a radial or lateral pattern for tearing of the capsule byinflation of the expandable balloon; FIG. 15A shows the capsule prior toinflation and FIG. 15B shows the capsule broken into pieces by theinflation of the balloon.

FIG. 16 shows an embodiment of a balloon tearable capsule fabricatedfrom separate portions joined by seams, which can be torn by inflationof the expandable balloon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention provide devices, systems and methods fordelivering medications in to various locations in the body. As usedherein, the term “medication” refers to a medicinal preparation in anyform which can include drugs or other therapeutic agents as well as oneor more pharmaceutical excipients. Many embodiments provide aswallowable device for delivering medication within the GI tract.Particular embodiments provide a swallowable device such as a capsulefor delivering medications to the wall of the small intestine or otherGI organ.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-9, an embodiment of a device 10 for thedelivery of medication 100 to a delivery site DS in thegastro-intestinal (GI) tract, comprises a capsule 20 sized to beswallowed and pass through the intestinal tract, a deployment member 30,one or more tissue penetrating members 40 containing medication 100, adeployable aligner 60 and a delivery mechanism 70. The deployablealigner 60 is positioned within the capsule and configured to align thecapsule with the intestine such as the small intestine. Typically, thiswill entail aligning a longitudinal axis of the capsule with alongitudinal axis of the intestine; however, other alignments are alsocontemplated. The delivery mechanism 70 is configured for deliveringmedication 100 into the intestinal wall and will typically include adelivery member 72 such as an expandable member. The deployment member30 is configured for deploying at least one of the aligner 60 or thedelivery mechanism 70. As will be described further herein, all or aportion of the capsule wall is degradable by contact with liquids in theGI tract so as to allow those liquids to trigger the delivery ofmedication 100 by device 10. As used herein, “GI tract” refers to theesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and anus, while“Intestinal tract” refers to the small and large intestine. Variousembodiments of the invention can be configured and arranged for deliveryof medication 100 into both the intestinal tract as well as the entireGI tract.

Device 10 including tissue penetrating member 40 can be configured forthe delivery of liquid, semi-liquid or solid forms of medication 100 orcombinations of all three. Whatever the form, medication 100 desirablyhas a material consistency allowing the medication to be advanced out ofdevice 10, into the intestinal wall (small or large intestine) or otherluminal wall in the GI tract and then degrade within the intestinal wallto release the drug or other therapeutic agent 101. The materialconsistency of medication 100 can include one or more of the hardness,porosity and solubility of the preparation (in body fluids). Thematerial consistency can be achieved by selection and use of one or moreof the following: i) the compaction force used to make the preparation;ii) the use of one or more pharmaceutical disintegrants known in theart; iii) use of other pharmaceutical excipients; iv) the particle sizeand distribution of the preparation (e.g., micronized particles); and v)use of micronizing and other particle formation methods known in theart.

A system 11 for delivery of medication 100 into the wall of the smallintestine or other location within the intestinal tract or GI tract, maycomprise device 10 which contains one or more medications 100 for thetreatment of a selected condition or conditions. In some embodiments,the system may include a hand held device 13, described herein forcommunicating with device 10 as is shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1B.In many embodiments, system 11 may also be configured as a kit 14including system 11 and a set of instructions for use 15 which arepackaged in packaging 12 as is shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1C. Theinstructions can indicate to the patient when to take the device 10relative to one or more events such as the ingestion of a meal or aphysiological measurement such as blood glucose, cholesterol, etc. Insuch embodiments, kit 14 can include multiple devices 10 containing aregimen of medications 100 for a selected period of administration,e.g., a day, week, or multiple weeks depending upon the condition to betreated (e.g., treatment of cancer by a course of interferon treatment,treatment of an autoimmune disease such as or psoriasis, multiplesclerosis or arthritis by immune suppression agents).

Capsule 20 is sized to be swallowed and pass through the intestinaltract. The size can also be adjusted depending upon the amount of drugto be delivered as well as the patient's weight and adult vs. pediatricapplications. Typically, the capsule will have a tubular shape withcurved ends similar to a vitamin. In these and related embodiments,capsule lengths 20L can be in the range of 0.5 to 2 inches and diameters20D in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 inches with other dimensionscontemplated. The capsule 20 includes a capsule wall 21 w, having anexterior surface 25 and an interior surface 24 defining an interiorspace or volume 24 v. In some embodiments, the capsule wall 21 w caninclude one or more apertures 26 sized for the outward advancement oftissue penetrating members 40. In addition to the other components ofdevice 10, (e.g., the expandable member etc.) the interior volume caninclude one or more compartments or reservoirs 27.

The capsule can be fabricated from various biodegradable gelatinmaterials known in the pharmaceutical arts, but can also include variousenteric coatings 20 c, configured to protect the cap from degradation inthe stomach (due to acids etc.), and then subsequently degrade in the inhigher pH's found in the small intestine or other area of the intestinaltract. In various embodiments, the capsule 20 can be formed frommultiple portions one or more of which may be biodegradable. In manyembodiments, capsule 20 can be formed from two portions 20 p such as abody portion 20 p″ (herein body 20 p″) and a cap portion 20 p′ (hereincap 20 p′), where the cap fits onto the body, e.g., by sliding over orunder the body (with other arrangements also contemplated). One portionsuch as the cap 20 p′ can include a first coating 20 c′ configured todegrade above a first pH (e.g., pH 5.5) and the second portion such asthe body 20 p″ can include a second coating 20 c″ configured to degradeabove a second higher pH (e.g. 6.5). Both the interior 24 and exterior25 surfaces of capsule 20 are coated with coatings 20 c′ and 20 c″ sothat that either portion of the capsule will be substantially preserveduntil it contacts fluid having the selected pH. For the case of body 20p″ this allows the structural integrity of the body 20 p″ to bemaintained so as to keep balloon 72 inside the body portion and notdeployed until balloon 30 has expanded. Coatings 20 c′ and 20 c″ caninclude various methacrylate and ethyl acrylate based coatings such asthose manufactured by Evonik Industries under the trade name EUDRAGIT.These and other dual coating configurations of the capsule 20 allows formechanisms in one portion of capsule 20 to be actuated before those inthe other portion of the capsule. This is due to the fact thatintestinal fluids will first enter those portions where the lower pHcoating has degraded thus actuating triggers which are responsive tosuch fluids (e.g., degradable valves). In use, such dual coatingembodiments for capsule 20 provide for targeted drug delivery to aparticular location in the small intestine (or other location in the GItract), as well as improved reliability in the delivery process. This isdue to the fact that deployment of a particular component, such asaligner 60, can be configured to begin in the upper area of the smallintestine (e.g., the duodenum) allowing the capsule to be aligned withinthe intestine for optimal delivery of the drug (e.g., into theintestinal wall) as well as providing sufficient time fordeployment/actuation of other components to achieve drug delivery intothe intestinal wall while the capsule is still in the small intestine orother selected location.

As is discussed above, one or more portions of capsule 20 can befabricated from various biocompatible polymers known in the art,including various biodegradable polymers which in a preferred embodimentcan comprise cellulose, gelatin materials PGLA (polylactic-co-glycolicacid). Other suitable biodegradable materials include various entericmaterials described herein as well as lactide, glycolide, lactic acid,glycolic acid, para-dioxanone, caprolactone, trimethylene carbonate,caprolactone, blends and copolymers thereof.

Use of biodegradable materials for capsule 20, including biodegradableenteric materials allows the capsule to degrade in whole or part tofacilitate passage through the GI system before, during or after drugdelivery. As is described in further detail herein, in variousembodiments, capsule 20 can include seams 22 of bio-degradable materialso as to controllably degrade into smaller pieces 23 which are moreeasily passed through the intestinal tract.

In various embodiments, the wall 20 w of the capsule is degradable bycontact with liquids in the GI tract for example liquids in the smallintestine. In preferred embodiments, the capsule wall is configured toremain intact during passage through the stomach, but then to bedegraded in the small intestine. In one or more embodiments, this can beachieved by the use of an outer coating or layer 20 c on the capsulewall 20 w, which only degrades in the higher pH's found in the smallintestine and serves to protect the underlying capsule wall fromdegradation within the stomach before the capsule reaches the smallintestine (at which point the drug delivery process is initiated bydegradation of the coating as is described herein). In use, suchcoatings allow for the targeted delivery of a therapeutic agent in aselected portion of the intestinal tract such as the small intestine.

In various embodiments, capsule 20 can include various radio-opaque,echogenic or other materials for location of the device using one ormore medical imaging modalities such as fluoroscopy, ultrasound, MRI,etc. In specific embodiments, all or a portion of the capsule caninclude radio-opaque/echogenic markers 20 m as is shown in theembodiment of FIGS. 1 a and 1 b. Suitable materials for radio-opaquemarkers 20 m include barium sulfate, compounds, titanium dioxid andcompounds thereof. In use, such materials allow for the location ofdevice 10 in the GI tract, as well as its state of deployment (e.g., adistinctive marker can be positioned on cap 20 p′ and another on body 20p″ allowing for determination if the deployment balloon 30 (discussedbelow) has inflated but the delivery balloon 72 has not). They can alsobe used allow for the determination of transit times of the devicethrough the GI tract. Such information can be used to titrate dosages ofdrug for a particular patient, as well as provide information on whenthey should take a particular drug after an event such as ingestion of ameal in the case of insulin taken for treatment of diabetes. Markers 20m can also be positioned on the capsule 20 to allow the physician todetermine if the capsule is intact, or has broken up.

As is discussed further herein, in many embodiments, one or more of thedeployment member 30, delivery member 72 or deployable aligner 60, maycorrespond to an expandable balloon that is shaped and sized to fitwithin capsule 20. Accordingly, for ease of discussion, deploymentmember 30, delivery member 72 and deployable aligner 60 will now bereferred to as balloon 30, 60 and 72; however, it should be appreciatedthat other devices including various expandable devices are alsocontemplated for these elements and may include for example, variousshape memory devices (e.g., an expandable basket made from shape memorybiodegradable polymer spires), expandable piezo electric devices, and/orchemically expandable devices having an expanded shape and sizecorresponding to the interior volume 24 v of the capsule 20.

One or more of balloons 30, 60 and 72 can comprise various polymersknown in the medical device arts. In preferred embodiments such polymerscan comprise one or more types of polyethylene (PE) which may correspondto low density PE (LDPE), linear low density PE (LLDPE), medium densityPE (MDPE) and high density PE (HDPE) and other forms of polyethyleneknown in the art. In one more embodiments using polyethylene, thematerial may be cross-linked using polymer irradiation methods known inthe art so. In particular embodiments radiation-based cross-linking maybe used as to control the inflated diameter and shape of the balloon bydecreasing the compliance of the balloon material. The amount orradiation may be selected to achieve a particular amount of crosslinking to in turn produce a particular amount of compliance for a givenballoon, e.g., increased irradiation can be used to produce stiffer lesscompliant balloon material. Other suitable polymers can include PET(polyethylene teraphalate), silicone and polyurethane. IN variousembodiments balloons 30, 60 and 72 may also include various radio-opaquematerials known in the art such as barium sulfate to allow the physicianto ascertain the position and physical state of the balloon (e.g.,un-inflated, inflated or punctures. Balloons 30, 60 and 72 can befabricated using various balloon blowing methods known in the ballooncatheters arts (e.g., mold blowing, free blowing, etc) to have a shapeand size which corresponds approximately to the interior volume 24 v ofcapsule 20. In various embodiments one or more of balloons 30, 60 and 72and various connecting features (e.g., connecting tubes) can have aunitary construction being formed from a single mold. Embodimentsemploying such unitary construction provide the benefit of improvedmanufacturability and reliability since fewer joints must be madebetween one or more components of device 10.

Suitable shapes for balloons 30, 60 and 72 include various cylindricalshapes having tapered or curved end portions (an example of such a shapeincluding a hot dog). In some embodiments, the inflated size (e.g.,diameter) of one or more of balloons 30, 60 and 72, can be larger thancapsule 20 so as to cause the capsule to come apart from the force ofinflation, (e.g., due to hoop stress). In other related embodiments, theinflated size of one or more of balloons 30, 60 and 72 can be such thatwhen inflated, i) the capsule 20 has sufficient contact with the wallsof the small intestine so as to elicit a peristaltic contraction causingcontraction of the small intestine around the capsule, and/or ii) thefolds of the small intestine are effaced to allow. Both of these resultsallow for improved contact between the capsule/balloon surface and theintestinal wall so as deliver tissue penetrating members 40 over aselected area of the capsule and/or delivery balloon 72. Desirably, thewalls of balloons 30, 60 and 72 will be thin and can have a wallthickness in the range of 0.005 to 0.0001″ more preferably, in the rangeof 0.005 to 0.0001, with specific embodiments of 0.004, 0.003, 0.002,0.001, and 0.0005). Additionally in various embodiments, one or more ofballoon 30, 60 or 72 can have a nested balloon configuration having aninflation chamber 601C and extended finger 60EF as is shown in theembodiments of FIG. 3C. The connecting tubing 63, connecting theinflation chamber 601C can be narrow to only allow the passage of gas68, while the connecting tubing 36 coupling the two halves of balloon 30can be larger to allow the passage of water.

As indicated above, the aligner 60 will typically comprise an expandableballoon and for ease of discussion, will now be referred to as alignerballoon 60 or balloon 60. Balloon 60 can be fabricated using materialsand methods described above. It has an unexpanded and expanded state(also referred to as a deployed state). In its expanded or deployedstate, balloon 60 extends the length of capsule 20 such that forcesexerted by the peristaltic contractions of the small intestine SI oncapsule 20 serve to align the longitudinal axis 20LA of the capsule 20in a parallel fashion with the longitudinal axis LAI of the smallintestine SI. This in turn serves to align the shafts of tissuepenetrating members 40 in a perpendicular fashion with the surface ofthe intestinal wall IW to enhance and optimize the penetration of tissuepenetrating members 40 into the intestinal wall IW. In addition toserving to align capsule 20 in the small intestine, aligner 60 is alsoconfigured to push delivery mechanism 70 out of capsule 20 prior toinflation of delivery balloon 72 so that the delivery balloon and/ormechanism is not encumbered by the capsule. In use, this push outfunction of aligner 60 improves the reliability for delivery of thetherapeutic agent since it is not necessary to wait for particularportions of the capsule (e.g., those overlying the delivery mechanism)to be degraded before drug delivery can occur.

Balloon 60 may be fluidically coupled to one or more components ofdevice 10 including balloons 30 and 72 by means of polymer tube or otherfluidic couplings 62 which may include a tube 63 for coupling balloons60 and 30 and a tube 64 for coupling balloon 60 and balloon 72. Tube 63is configured to allow balloon 60 to be expanded/inflated by pressurefrom balloon 30 (e.g., pressure generated the mixture of chemicalreactants within balloon 30) and/or otherwise allow the passage ofliquid between balloons 30 and 60 to initiate a gas generating chemicalreaction for inflation of one or both of balloons 30 and 60. Tube 64connects balloon 60 to 72 so as to allow for the inflation of balloon 72by balloon 60. In many embodiments, tube 64 includes or is coupled to acontrol valve 55 which is configured to open at a selected pressure soas to control the inflation of balloon 72 by balloon 60. Tube 64 maythus comprise a proximal portion 64 p connecting to the valve and adistal portion 64 d leading from the valve. Typically, proximal anddistal portions 64 p and 64 d will be connected to a valve housing 58 asis described below.

Valve 55 may comprise a triangular or other shaped section 56 of amaterial 57 which is placed within a the chamber 58 c of a valve housing58 (alternately, it may be placed directly within tubing 64). Section 57is configured to mechanically degrade (e.g., tears, shears, delaminates,etc.) at a selected pressure so as to allow the passage of gas throughtube 64 and/or valve chamber 58 c. Suitable materials 57 for valve 55can include bees wax or other form of wax and various adhesives known inthe medical arts which have a selectable sealing force/burst pressure.Valve fitting 58 will typically comprise a thin cylindrical compartment(made from biodegradable materials) in which section 56 of material 57is placed (as is shown in the embodiment of FIG. 3B) so as to seal thewalls of chamber 58 c together or otherwise obstruct passage of fluidthrough the chamber. The release pressure of valve 55 can be controlledthrough selection of one or more of the size and shape of section 56 aswell as the selection of material 57 (e.g., for properties such asadhesive strength, shear strength etc.). In use, control valve 55 allowsfor a sequenced inflation of balloon 60 and 72 such that balloon 60 isfully or otherwise substantially inflated before balloon 72 is inflated.This, in turn, allows balloon 60 to push balloon 72 along with the restof delivery mechanism 70 out of capsule 20 (typically from body portion20 p′) before balloon 72 inflates so that deployment of tissuepenetrating members 40 is not obstructed by capsule 20 In use, such anapproach improves the reliability of the penetration of tissuepenetrating members 40 into intestinal wall IW both in terms ofachieving a desired penetration depth and delivering greater numbers ofthe penetrating members 40 contained in capsule 20 since the advancementof the members into intestinal wall IW is not obstructed by capsule wall20 w.

As is describe above, the inflated length 601 of the aligner balloon 60is sufficient to have the capsule 20 become aligned with the lateralaxis of the small intestine from peristaltic contractions of theintestine. Suitable inflated lengths 601 for aligner 60 can include arange between about ½ to two times the length 201 of the capsule 20before inflation of aligner 60. Suitable shapes for aligner balloon 60can include various elongated shapes such as a hotdog like shape. Inspecific embodiments, balloon 60 can include a first section 60′ and asecond section 60″, where expansion of first section 60′ is configuredto advance delivery mechanism 70 out of capsule 20 (typically out of andsecond section 60″ is used to inflate delivery balloon 72. In these andrelated embodiments, first and second sections 60′ and 60″ can beconfigured to have a telescope-style inflation where first section 60′inflates first to push mechanism 70 out of the capsule (typically frombody portion 20 p′) and second section 60″ inflates to inflate deliverymember 72. This can be achieve by configuring first section 60′ to havesmaller diameter and volume than second section 60″ such that firstsection 60′ inflates first (because of its smaller volume) and withsecond section 60″ not inflating until first section 60′ hassubstantially inflated. In one embodiment, this can be facilitated byuse of a control valve 55 (described above) connecting sections 60′ and60″ which does not allow passage of gas into section 60″ until a minimumpressure has been reached in section 60′. In some embodiments, thealigner balloon can contain the chemical reactants which react uponmixture with water or other liquid from the deploying balloon.

In many embodiments, the deployment member 30 will comprise anexpandable balloon, known as the deployment balloon 30. In variousembodiments, deployment balloon 30 is configured to facilitatedeployment/expansion of aligner balloon 60 by use of a gas, for example,generation of a gas 69 from a chemical. The gas may be generated by thereaction of solid chemical reactants 65, such as an acid 66 (e.g.,citric acid) and a base 66 (e.g., potassium bicarbonate, sodiumbicarbonate and the like) which are then mixed with water or otheraqueous liquid 68. The amount of reactants be chosen usingstoichiometric methods to produce a selected pressure in one or more ofballoons 30, 60 and 72. The reactants 65 and liquids can be storedseparately in balloon 30 and 60 and then brought together in response toa trigger event, such as the pH conditions in the small intestine. Thereactants 65 and liquids 68 can be stored in either balloon, however inpreferred embodiments, liquid 68 is stored in balloon 30 and reactants65 in balloon 60. To allow for passage of the liquid 68 to start thereaction and/or the resulting gas 69, balloon 30 may be coupled toaligner balloon 60 by means of a connector tube 63 which also typicallyincludes a separation means 50 such as a degradable valve 50 describedbelow. For embodiments where balloon 30 contains the liquid, tube 63 hassufficient diameter to allow for the passage of sufficient water fromballoon 30 to balloon 60 to produce the desired amount of gas to inflateballoon 60 as well inflate balloon 72. Also when balloon 30 contains theliquid, one or both of balloon 30 and tube 63 are configured to allowfor the passage of liquid to balloon 60 by one or more of the following:i) the compressive forced applied to balloon 30 by peristalticcontractions of the small intestine on the exposed balloon 30; and ii)wicking of liquid through tube 63 by capillary action.

Tube 63 will typically include a degradable separation valve or otherseparation means 50 which separates the contents of balloon 30, (e.g.,water 58) from those of balloon 60 (e.g., reactants 65) until the valvedegrades. Valve 50 can be fabricated from a material such as maltose,which is degradable by liquid water so that the valve opens uponexposure to water along with the various liquids in the digestive tract.It may also be made from materials that are degradable responsive to thehigher pH's found in the intestinal fluids such as methacrylate basedcoatings. The valve is desirably positioned at location on tube 63 whichprotrudes above balloon 30 and/or is otherwise sufficient exposed suchthat when cap 20 p′ degrades the valve 50 is exposed to the intestinalliquids which enter the capsule. In various embodiments, valve 50 can bepositioned to lie on the surface of balloon 30 or even protrude above it(as is shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 6A and 6B), so that is hasclear exposure to intestinal fluids once cap 20 p′ degrades. Variousembodiments of the invention provide a number of structures for aseparation valve 50, for example, a beam like structure (where the valvecomprises a beam that presses down on tube 63 and/or connecting section36), or collar type structure (where the valve comprise a collar lyingover tube 63 and/or connecting section 36). Still other valve structuresare also contemplated.

Balloon 30 has a deployed and a non-deployed state. In the deployedstate, the deployment balloon 30 can have a dome shape 30 d whichcorresponds to the shape of an end of the capsule. Other shapes 30 s forthe deployed balloon 30 are also contemplated, such as spherical,tube-shape, etc. The reactants 65 will typically include at least tworeactants 66 and 67, for example, an acid such as citric acid and a basesuch as sodium bicarbonate, which can have about a 1:2 ratio. Otherreactants 65 including other acids, e.g., ascetic acid and bases, e.g.,sodium hydroxid are also contemplated. When the valve or otherseparation means 50 opens, the reactants mix in the liquid and produce agas such as carbon dioxide which expands the aligner balloon 60 or otherexpandable member.

In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 3B, the deployment balloon 30can actually comprise a first and second balloon 30′ and 30″ connectedby a tube 36 or other connection means 36 (e.g., a connecting section).Connecting tube 36 will typically include a separation valve 50 that isdegradable by a liquid as described above and/or a liquid having aparticular pH such as basic pH found in the small intestine (e.g., 5.5or 6.5). The two balloons 30′ and 30″ can each have a half dome shape 30hs allowing them to fit into the end portion of the capsule when in theexpanded state. One balloon can contain the chemical reactant(s) 65(e.g., sodium bicarbonate, citric acid, etc.) the other the liquid water68, so that when the valve is degraded the two components mix to form agas which inflates one or both balloons 30′ and 30″ and in turn, thealigner balloon 60.

In yet another alternative embodiment, balloon 30 can comprise amulti-compartment balloon 30 mc, that is formed or other constructed tohave multiple compartments 30 c. Typically, compartments 30 c willinclude at least a first and a second compartment 34 and 35 which areseparated by a separation valve 50 or other separation means 50 as isshown in the embodiment of FIG. 4A. In many embodiments, compartments 34and 35 will have at least a small connecting section 36 between themwhich is where separation valve 50 will typically be placed. A liquid68, typically water, can be disposed within first compartment 34 and oneor more reactants 65 disposed in second compartment 35 (which typicallyare solid though liquid may also be used) as is shown in the embodimentof FIG. 4A. When valve 50 opens (e.g., from degradation caused by fluidswithin the small intestine) liquid 68 enters compartment 35 (or viceversa or both), the reactant(s) 65 mix with the liquid and produce a gas69 such as carbon dioxide which expands balloon 30 which in turn can beused to expand one or more of balloons 60 and 72.

Reactants 65 will typically include at least a first and a secondreactant, 66 and 67 for example, an acid such as citric acid and a basesuch as sodium bi-carbonate or potassium bi-carbonate. As discussedherein, in various embodiments they may be placed in one or more ofballoon 30 (including compartments 34 and 35 or halves 30′ and 30″) andballoon 60. Additional reactants, including other combinations of acidsand bases which produce an inert gas by product are also contemplated.For embodiments using citric acid and sodium or carbonate, the ratio'sbetween the two reactants (citric acid to potassium bicarbonate) can bein the range of about 1:1 to about 1:4, with a specific ratio of about1:3. Desirably, solid reactants 65 have little or no absorbed water.Accordingly, one or more of the reactants, such as sodium bicarbonate orpotassium bicarbonate can be pre-dried (e.g., by vacuum drying) beforebeing placed within balloon 30. Other reactants 65 including otheracids, e.g., ascetic acid and bases are also contemplated. The amountsof particular reactants 65, including combinations of reactants can beselected to produce particular pressures using known stoichiometricequations for the particular chemical reactions as well as the inflatedvolume of the balloon and the ideal gas law (e.g., PV=nRT). Inparticular embodiments, the amounts of reactants can be selected toproduce a pressure selected one or more of balloons 30, 60 and 72 to i)achieve a particular penetration depth into the intestinal wall; ii) andproduce a particular diameter for one or more of balloons 30, 60 and 72;and iii) exert a selected amount of force against intestinal wall IW. Inparticular embodiments, the amount and ratios of the reactants (e.g.,citric acid and potassium bicarbonate) can be selected to achievepressures in one more of the balloons 30, 60 and 72 in the range of 10to 15 psi, with smaller and larger pressures contemplated. Again theamounts and ratio's of the reactants to achieve these pressures can bedetermined using known stoichiometric equations.

In various embodiments of the invention using chemical reactants 65 togenerate gas 69, the chemical reactants alone or in combination with thedeployment balloon 30 can comprise a deployment engine for 80 deployingone or both of the aligner balloon 60 and delivery mechanism 70including delivery balloon 72. Deployment engine 80 may also includeembodiments using two deployment balloons 30 and 30″ (a dual domeconfiguration as shown in FIG. 3B), or a multi compartment balloon 30 mcas shown in FIG. 4A. Other forms of a deployment engine 80 are alsocontemplated by various embodiments of the invention such as use ofexpandable piezo-electric materials (that expand by application of avoltage), springs and other shape memory materials and various thermallyexpandable materials.

One or more of the expandable balloons 30, 60 and 72 will also typicallyinclude a deflation valve 59 which serves to deflate the balloon afterinflation. Deflation valve 59 can comprise biodegradable materials whichare configured to degrade upon exposure to the fluids in the smallintestine and/or liquid in one of the compartments of the balloon so asto create an opening or channel for escape of gas within a particularballoon. Desirably, deflation valves 59 are configured to degrade at aslower rate than valve 50 to allow sufficient time for inflation ofballoons, 30, 60 and 72 before the deflation valve degrades. In variousembodiments, of a compartmentalized balloon 30, deflation valve 59 cancorrespond to a degradable section 39 positioned on an end portion 31 ofthe balloon as is shown in the embodiment of FIG. 4A. In this andrelated embodiments, when degradable section 39 degrades from exposureto the liquid, balloon wall 32 tears or otherwise comes apart providingfor a high assurance of rapid deflation. Multiple degradable sections 39can be placed at various locations within balloon wall 32.

In various embodiments of balloon 72, deflation valve 59 can correspondto a tube valve 73 attached to the end 72 e of the delivery balloon 72(opposite to the end which is coupled to the aligner balloon) as isshown in the embodiment of FIG. 3B. The tube valve 73 comprises a hollowtube 73 t having a lumen that is obstructed at a selected location 731with a material 73 m such as maltose that degrades upon exposure tofluid such as the fluid in the small intestine. The location 731 of theobstructing material 73 m in tube 73 t is selected to provide sufficienttime for the delivery balloon 72 to inflate and deliver the tissuepenetrating members 40 into the intestinal wall IW before theobstructing material dissolves to open valve 73. Typically, this will beclose to the end 73 e of the tube 73 t, but not quite so as to allowtime for liquid to have to wick into the tube lumen before it reachesmaterial 73 m. According to one or more embodiments, once the deflationvalve 73 opens, it not only serves to deflate the delivery balloon 72but also the aligner balloon 60 and deployment balloon 30 since in manyembodiments, all three are fludicially connected (aligner balloon beingfludically connected to delivery balloon 72 and the deployment balloon30 being fludically connected to aligner balloon 60). Opening of thedeflation valve 73 can be facilitated by placing it on the end 72 e ofthe delivery balloon 72 that is forced out of capsule 20 by inflation ofthe aligner balloon 60 so that the deflation valve has good exposure toliquids in the small intestine. Similar tube deflation valves 73 canalso be positioned on one or both of aligner balloon 62 and thedeployment balloon 30. In these later two cases, the obstructingmaterial in the tube valve can be configured to degrade over a timeperiod to allow sufficient time for inflation of delivery balloon 72 andadvancement of tissue penetrating members 40 into the intestinal wall.

Additionally, as further backup for insured deflation, one or morepuncture elements 82 (shown in FIG. 2A) can be attached to the insidesurface 24 of the capsule such that when a balloon (e.g., balloon 30,60, 72) fully inflates it contacts and is punctured by the punctureelement 82. Puncture elements 82 can comprise short protrusions fromsurface 24 having a pointed tip. In another alternative or additionalembodiment of a means for balloon deflation, one or more of the tissuepenetrating members 40 can be directly coupled to the wall of 72 w ofballoon 72 and configured to tear away from the balloon when theydetach, tearing the balloon wall in the process.

A discussion will now be presented of tissue penetrating members 40.Tissue penetrating member 40 can be fabricated from various drugs andother therapeutic agents 101, one or more pharmaceutical excepients(e.g., disintegrants, stabilizers, etc.) and one or more biodegradablematerials which may be used to form the main structural components oftissue penetrating member 40 including shaft 44 and tip 45 discussedbelow. The later materials can be chosen to confer desired structuraland material properties to the penetrating member (for example, columnstrength for insertion into the intestinal wall, or porosity andhydrophilicity for control the release of drug. Referring now to FIGS.8A-8F, in many embodiments, the penetrating member 40 can be formed tohave a shaft 44 and a needle tip 45 or other pointed tip 45 so as toreadily penetrate tissue of the intestinal wall as shown in theembodiment of FIG. 8A. In preferred embodiments, tip 45 has a trocarshape as is shown in the embodiment of FIG. 8C. Tip 45 may comprisevarious degradable materials (within the body of the tip or as acoating), such as sucrose, maltose or other sugar which increase thehardness and tissue penetrating properties of the tip. Once placed inthe intestinal wall, the penetrating member 40 is degraded by theinterstitial fluids within the wall tissue so that the drug or othertherapeutic agent 101 dissolves in those fluids and is absorbed into theblood stream. One or more of the size, shape and chemical composition oftissue penetrating member 40 can be selected to allow for dissolutionand absorption of drug 101 in a matter of seconds, minutes or evenhours. Rates of dissolution can be controlled through the use of variousdisintegrants known in the pharmaceutical arts. Examples ofdisintegrants include, but are not limited to various starches such assodium starch glycolate and various cross linked polymers such ascarboxymethyl cellulose. The choice of disintegrants can be specificallyadjusted for the environment within the wall of the small intestinee.g., blood flow, average number of peristaltic contractions, etc.

Tissue penetrating member 40 will also typically include one or moretissue retaining features 43 such as a barb or hook to retain thepenetrating member within the tissue of the intestinal wall IW afteradvancement. Retaining features 43 can be arranged in various patterns43 p to enhance tissue retention such as two or more barbs symmetricallyor otherwise distributed around and along member shaft 44 as is shown inthe embodiments of FIGS. 8A and 8B. Additionally, in many embodiments,penetrating member will also include a recess or other mating feature 46for attachment to a coupling component on delivery mechanism 70.

Tissue penetrating member 40 is desirably configured to be detachablycoupled to platform 75 (or other component of delivery mechanism 70), sothat after advancement of the tissue penetrating member 40 into theintestinal wall, the penetrating member detaches from the balloon.Detachability can be implemented by a variety of means including: i) thesnugness or fit between the opening 74 in platform 75 and the membershaft 44); ii) the configuration and placement of tissue retainingfeatures 43 on penetrating member 40; and iii) the depth of penetrationof shaft 44 into the intestinal wall. Using one or more of thesefactors, penetrating member 40 be configured to detach as a result ofballoon deflation (where the retaining features 43 hold the penetratingmember 40 in tissue as the balloon deflates or otherwise pulls back awayfrom the intestinal wall) and/or the forces exerted on capsule 20 by aperistaltic contraction of the small intestine.

In a specific embodiment, the detachability and retention of tissuepenetrating member 40 in the intestinal wall IW can be enhanced byconfiguring the tissue penetrating member shaft 44 to have an inversetaper 44 t as is shown in the embodiment of FIG. 8C. The taper 44 t onthe shaft 44 is configured such that the application of peristalticcontractile forces from the intestinal wall on the shaft result in theshaft being forced inward 9 (e.g., squeezed inward). This is due to theconversion by shaft taper 44 t of the laterally applied peristalticforce PF to an orthogonal force OF acting to force the shaft inward intothe intestinal wall. In use, such inverse tapered shaft configurationsserve to retain tissue penetrating member 40 within the intestinal wallso as to detach from platform 75 (or other component of deliverymechanism 70) upon deflation of balloon 72. Inverse tapers may also beused for embodiments of tissue penetrating member 40 which have anynumber of tip shapes 45 in addition to a trocar tip. In additionalembodiments, tissue penetrating members 40 having an inverse taperedshaft may also include one or more retaining features 43 to furtherenhance the retention of the tissue penetrating member within intestinalwall IW once inserted.

As described above, in various embodiments, tissue penetrating member 40can be fabricated from a number of drugs and other therapeutic agents101. Also according to one or more embodiments, the tissue penetratingmember may be fabricated entirely from drug 101 or may have otherconstituent components as well, e.g., various pharmaceutical excipients(e.g., binders, preservatives, disintegrants, etc.), polymers conferringdesired mechanical properties, etc. Further, in various embodiments oneor more tissue penetrating members 40 can carry the same or a differentdrug 101 (or other therapeutic agent) from other tissue penetratingmembers. The former configuration allows for the delivery of greateramounts of a particular drug 101, while the later, allows two or moredifferent drugs to be delivered into the intestinal wall at about thesame time to facilitate drug treatment regimens requiring substantialconcurrent delivery of multiple drugs. In embodiments of device 10, havemultiple delivery assemblies 78 (e.g., two, one on each face of balloon72), a first assembly 78′ can carry tissue penetrating members having afirst drug 101 and a second assembly 78″ can carry tissue penetratingmembers having a second drug 101.

Typically, the drug or other therapeutic agent 101 carried by the tissuepenetrating member 40 will be mixed in with a biodegradable material 105to form tissue penetrating member 40. Material 105 may include one ormore biodegradable polymers such as PGLA, cellulose, as well as sugarssuch as maltose or other biodegradable material described herein orknown in the art. In such embodiments, the penetrating member 40 maycomprise a substantially heterogeneous mixture of drug 101 andbiodegradable material 105. Alternatively, the tissue penetrating member40 may include a portion 41 formed substantially from biodegradablematerial 105 and a separate section 42 that is formed from or containsdrug 101 as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 8D. In one or moreembodiments, section 42 may correspond to a pellet, slug, cylinder orother shaped section 42 s of drug 101. Shaped section 42 s may bepre-formed as a separate section which is then inserted into a cavity 42c in tissue penetrating member 40 as is shown in the embodiments ofFIGS. 8E and 8F. Alternatively section 42 s may be formed by adding ofdrug preparation 100 to cavity 42 c. In embodiments, where drugpreparation 100 is added to cavity 42 c, preparation may be added in asa powder, liquid, or gel which is poured or injected into cavity 42 c.Shaped section 42 s may be formed of drug 101 by itself or a drugpreparation containing drug 101 and one or more binders, preservatives,disintegrates and other excipients. Suitable binders includepolyethylene glycol (PEG) and other binders known in the art. In variousembodiments, the PEG or other binder may comprise in the range of about10 to 50% weight percent of the section 42 s, with a preferredembodiment of about 30 weight percent. Other binders may include PLGA,Cyclodextrin, Cellulose, Methyl Cellulose, maltose, Dextrin, Sucrose,PGA.

In various embodiments, the weight of tissue penetrating member 40 canrange between about 10 to 15 mg, with larger and smaller weightscontemplated. For embodiments of tissue penetrating member 40 fabricatedfrom maltose, the weight can range from about 11 to 14 mg. In variousembodiments, depending upon the drug 101 and the desired delivered dose,the weight percent of drug in member 40 can range from about 0.1 toabout 15%. The weight percent of drug 101 in member 40 can be adjusteddepending upon the desired dose as well as to provide for structural andstoichiometric stability to the drug and also to achieve a desiredelution profile of the drug. Table 1 lists the dose and weight percentrange for a number of drugs which may be delivered by tissue penetratingmember 40.

TABLE 1 % Weight of Drug Drug Dose Via Capsule** in the needle Insulin5-30 Units 2-15% Exenatide 10 ug  <1% Liraglutide 0.6 mg  3-6%Pramlintide 15-120 ug 0.1-1%  Growth Hormone 0.2-1 mg 2-10% Somatostatin50-600 ug 0.3-8%  GnRH and Analogs 0.3-1.5 mg 2-15% Vasopressin 2-10units  <1% PTH/Teriparatide 20 ug  1-2% Interferons and analogs 1. ForMultiple Sclerosis 0.03-0.25 mg 0.1-3%  2. For Hep B and HepC 6-20 ug0.05-0.2%    Adalimumab 2-4 mg/day 8-12% Infliximab 5 mg/day 8-12%Etanercept 3 mg/day 8-12% Natalizumab 3 mg/day 8-12%

Tissue penetrating member 40 can be fabricated using one or more polymerand pharmaceutical fabrication techniques known in the art. For example,drug 101 (with or without biodegradable material 105) can be in solidform and then formed into the shape of the tissue penetrating member 40using molding, compaction or other like method with one or more bindingagents added. Alternatively, drug 101 and/or drug preparation 100 may bein solid or liquid form and then added to the biodegradable material 105in liquid form with the mixture then formed into the penetrating member40 using molding or other forming method known in the polymer arts.

Desirably, embodiments of the tissue penetrating member 40 comprising adrug or other therapeutic agent 101 and degradable material 105 areformed at temperatures which do not produce any substantial thermaldegradation of the drug (or other therapeutic agent) including drugssuch as various peptides and proteins. This can be achieved through theuse of room-temperature curing polymers and room temperature molding andsolvent evaporation techniques known in the art. In particularembodiments, the amount of thermally degraded drug or other therapeuticagent within the tissue penetrating member is desirably less than about10% by weight and more preferably, less than 5% and still morepreferably less than 1%. The thermal degradation temperature(s) for aparticular drug are either known or can be determined using methodsknown in the art and then this temperature can be used to select andadjust the particular polymer processing methods (e.g., molding, curing.solvent evaporation methods etc.) to minimize the temperatures andassociated level of drug thermal degradation.

A description will be provided of delivery mechanism 70. Typically, themechanism will comprise a delivery assembly 78 (containing tissuepenetrating members 40) that is attached to delivery balloon 72 as isshown in the embodiment of FIGS. 6A and 6B. Inflation of the deliveryballoon provides a mechanical force for engaging delivery assembly 72outwards from the capsule and into the intestinal wall IW so as toinsert tissue penetrating members 40 into the wall. In variousembodiments, the delivery balloon 72 can have an elongated shape withtwo relatively flat faces 72 f connected by an articulatedaccordion-like body 72 b. The flat faces 72 f can be configured to pressagainst the intestinal wall (IW) upon expansion of the balloon 72 so asto insert the tissue penetrating members (TPMs) 40 into the intestinalwall. TPMs 40 (either by themselves or as part of a delivery assembly 78described below) can be positioned on one or both faces 72 f of balloon70 to allow insertion of drug containing TPMs 40 on opposite sides ofthe intestinal wall. The faces 72 f of balloon 72 may have sufficientsurface area to allow for placement of a number of drug containing TPMs40 on each face.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a description will now be provided of assemblyof delivery assembly 78. In a first step 300, one or more tissuepenetrating members 40 can be detachably coupled to a biodegradableadvancement structure 75 which may correspond to a support platform 75(also known as platform 75). In preferred embodiments, platform 75includes one or more openings 74 for insertion of members 40 as shown instep 300. Openings 74 are sized to allow for insertion and retention ofmembers 40 in platform 75 prior to expansion of balloon 72 whileallowing for their detachment from the platform upon their penetrationinto the intestinal wall. Support platform 75 can then be positionedwithin a carrying structure 76 as shown in step 301. Carrying structure76 may correspond to a well structure 76 having side walls 76 s and abottom wall 76 b which define a cavity or opening 76 c. Platform 75 isdesirably attached to inside surface of bottom wall 76 b using adhesiveor other joining methods known in the art. Well structure 76 cancomprise various polymer materials and may be formed using vacuumforming techniques known in the polymer processing arts. In manyembodiments, opening 76 o can be covered with a protective film 77 asshown in step 302. Protective film 77 has properties selected tofunction as a barrier to protect tissue penetrating members 40 fromhumidity and oxidation while still allowing tissue penetrating members40 to penetrate the film as is described below. Film 77 can comprisevarious water and/or oxygen impermeable polymers which are desirablyconfigured to be biodegradable in the small intestine and/or to passinertly through the digestive tract. It may also have a multi-plyconstruction with particular layers selected for impermeability to agiven substance, e.g., oxygen, water vapor etc. In use, embodimentsemploying protective film 77 serve to increase the shelf life oftherapeutic agent 101 in tissue penetrating members 40, and in turn, theshelf life of device 10. Collectively, support platform 75 attachedtissue penetrating members 40, well structure 76, and film 77 cancomprise a delivery assembly 78. Delivery assemblies 78 having one ormore drugs or therapeutic agents 101 contained within tissue penetratingmember 40 or other drug delivery means can be pre-manufactured, storedand subsequently used for the manufacture of device 10 at a later date.The shelf life of assembly 78 can be further enhanced by filling cavity76 c of the sealed assembly 78 with an inert gas such as nitrogen.

Referring back to FIGS. 6A and 6B, assemblies 78 can be positioned onone or both faces 72 f of balloon 72. In preferred embodiments,assemblies 78 are positioned on both faces 72 f (as shown in FIG. 6A) soas to provide a substantially equal distribution of force to oppositesides of the intestinal wall IW upon expansion of balloon 72. Theassemblies 78 may be attached to faces 72 f using adhesives or otherjoining methods known in the polymer arts. Upon expansion of balloon 72,TPMs 40 penetrate through film 77, enter the intestinal wall IW and areretained there by retaining elements 43 and/or other retaining featuresof tissue penetrating (e.g., an inverse tapered shaft 44 t) such thatthey detach from platform 75 upon deflation of balloon 72.

In various embodiments, one or more of balloons 30, 60 and 72 can bepacked inside capsule 20 in a folded, furled or other desiredconfiguration to conserve space within the interior volume 24 v of thecapsule. Folding can be done using preformed creases or other foldingfeature or method known in the medical balloon arts. In particularembodiments, balloon 30, 60 and 72 can be folded in selectedorientations to achieve one or more of the following: i) conserve space,ii) produce a desired orientation of a particular inflated balloon; andiii) facilitate a desired sequence of balloon inflations. Theembodiments shown in FIGS. 5A-5F illustrate an embodiment of a method offolding and various folding arrangements. However, it should beappreciated that this folding arrangement and the resulting balloonorientations are exemplary and others may also be used. In this andrelated embodiments, folding can be done manually, by automated machineor a combination of both. Also in many embodiments, folding can befacilitated by using a single multi balloon assembly 7 (herein assembly7) comprising balloons 30, 60, 70; valve chamber 58 and assortedconnecting tubings 62 as is shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 3A and 3B.FIG. 3A shows an embodiment of assembly 7 having a single domeconstruction for balloon 30, while FIG. 3B shows the embodiment ofassembly 7 having dual balloon/dome configuration for balloon 30.Assembly 7 can be fabricated using a thin polymer film which isvacuum-formed into the desired shape using various vacuum forming andother related methods known in the polymer processing arts. Suitablepolymer films include polyethylene films having a thickness in the rangeof about 0.003 to about 0.010″, with a specific embodiment of 0.005″. Inpreferred embodiments, the assembly is fabricated to have a unitaryconstruction so as to eliminate the need for joining one or morecomponents of the assembly (e.g., balloons 30, 60, etc). However, it isalso contemplated for assembly 7 to be fabricated from multiple portions(e.g., halves), or components (e.g., balloons) which are then joinedusing various joining methods known in the polymer/medical device arts.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A-5F, 6A-B and 7A-7B, in a first folding step210, balloon 60 is folded over onto valve fitting 58 with balloon 72being flipped over to the opposite side of valve fitting 58 in theprocess (see FIG. 5A). Then in step 211, balloon 72 is folded at a rightangle to the folded combination of balloon 60 and valve 58 (see FIG.5B). Then, in step 212 for dual dome embodiments of balloon 30, the twohalves 30′ and 30″ of balloon 30 are folded onto each other, leavingvalve 50 exposed (see FIG. 5C, for single dome embodiments of balloon30, is folded over onto itself see FIG. 5E). A final folding step 213can be done whereby folded balloon 30 is folded over 180° to theopposite side of valve fitting 58 and balloon 60 to yield a final foldedassembly 8 for dual dome configurations shown in the FIG. 5E and a finalfolded assembly 8′ for single dome configurations shown in FIGS. 5E and5F. One or more delivery assemblies 78 are then be attached to assembly8 in step 214 (typically two the faces 72 f of balloon 72) to yield afinal assembly 9 (shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 6A and 6B) which isthen inserted into capsule 20. After an insertion step 215, the finalassembled version of device 10 with inserted assembly 9 is shown FIGS.7A and 7B.

Referring now to FIGS. 10A-10I, a description will be provided of amethod of using device 10 to deliver medication 101 to a site in the GItract such as the wall of the small or large intestine. It should beappreciated that the steps and there order is exemplary and other stepsand orders also contemplated. After device 10 enters the small intestineSI, the cap coating 20 c′ is degraded by the basic pH in the upper smallintestine causing degradation of cap 20 p′ as shown in step 400 in FIG.10B. Valve 50 is then exposed to fluids in the small intestine causingthe valve to begin degrade as is shown in step 401 in FIG. 10C. Then, instep 402, balloon 30 expands (due to generation of gas 69) as shown inFIG. 10D. Then, in step 403, section 60′ of balloon 60 begins to expandto start to push assembly 78 out of the capsule body as shown in FIG.10E. Then, in step 404, sections 60′ and 60″ of balloon 60 become fullyinflated to completely push assembly 78 out of the capsule bodyextending the capsule length 201 so as to serve to align capsule lateralaxis 20AL with the lateral axis of the small intestine LAI as shown inFIG. 10F. During this time, valve 55 is beginning to fail from theincreased pressure in balloon 60 (due to the fact that the balloon hasfully inflated and there is no other place for gas 69 to go). Then, instep 405, valve 55 has completely opened, inflating balloon 72 whichthen pushes the now completely exposed assembly 78 (having been pushedcompletely out of body 20 p″) radially outward into the intestinal wallIW as shown in FIG. 10G. Then, in step 406, balloon 72 continues toexpand to now advance tissue penetrating members into the intestinalwall IW as shown in FIG. 10H. Then, in step 407, balloon 72, (along withballoons 60 and 30) has deflated pulling back and leaving tissuepenetrating members retained in the intestinal wall IW. Also, the bodyportion 20 p″ of the capsule has completely degraded (due to degradationof coating 20 c″) along with other biodegradable portions of device 10.Any portion not degraded is carried distally through the small intestineby peristaltic contraction from digestion and is ultimately excreted.

Referring back to FIG. 1B, as an alternative or supplement to the use ofpH sensitive degradable coatings and valves for inflation of one or moreof balloons 30, 60, and 72 (and deployment of medication 100), invarious embodiments the balloons can be expanded responsive to a sensor97, such as a pH sensor 98 or other chemical sensor which detects thepresence of the capsule in the small intestine. Sensor 97 can then senda signal to a controllable embodiment of isolation valve 50 or to anelectronic controller 29 c coupled to a controllable isolation valve 50to open and thus expand balloon 30 as is described herein. Embodimentsof a pH sensor 98 can comprise an electrode-based sensor or it can be amechanically-based sensor such as a polymer which shrinks or expandsupon exposure to a selected pH or other chemical conditions in the smallintestine. In related embodiments, an expandable/contractible pH sensor98 can also comprise the isolation valve 50 itself, by configuring thesensor to expand or contract about connector 63 and/or 36 so as to opena channel between balloons 30 and 60 and/or compartments 34 and 35.

According to another embodiment for detecting when device 10 is in thesmall intestine (or other location in the GI tract), sensor 97 cancomprise pressure/force sensor such as strain gauge for detecting thenumber of peristaltic contractions that capsule 20 is being subject towithin a particular location in the intestinal tract (in suchembodiments capsule 20 is desirably sized to be gripped by the smallintestine during a peristaltic contraction). Different locations withinthe GI tract have different number of peristaltic contractions. Forexample, the small intestine has between 12 to 9 contractions per minutewith the frequency decreasing down the length of the intestine. Thus,according to one or more embodiments, detection of the number ofperistaltic contractions can be used to not only determine if capsule 20is in the small intestine, but the relative location within theintestine as well. In use, these and related embodiments allow forrelease of medication 100 at a particular location in the smallintestine.

Still referring to FIG. 1B, as an alternative or supplement to internalactivation of drug delivery by device 10 (e.g., using a pH sensitivecoatings and/or sensor), in some embodiments, the user may externallysend a signal to expand one or more of balloon 30, 60 and 72 to delivermedication 100 to the intestinal wall. The signal may be sent by meansof RF, magnetic or other wireless signaling means known in the art. Invarious embodiments, external activation can be achieved by use of acontrollable isolation valve 50 for example, an RF controlled miniaturesolenoid valve or other electro-mechanical control valve (not shown). Inother embodiments, a controllable isolation valve 50 may correspond to aminiature magnetically valve such as a magnetically controlled miniaturereed switch (not shown). Such electromechanical or magnetic-based valvescan be fabricated using mems and other micro manufacturing methods. Inthese and related embodiments, the user can use a handheld communicationdevice 13 (e.g., a hand held RF device such as a cell phone) as is shownin the embodiment of FIG. 1B, to send a receive signals 17 from device10. In such embodiments, swallowable device may include a transmitter 28such as an RF transceiver chip or other like communicationdevice/circuitry. Handheld device 13 may not only includes signalingmeans, but also means for informing the user when device 10 is in thesmall intestine or other location in the GI tract. The later embodimentcan be implemented through the use of logic resources 29 (e.g., aprocessor 29) coupled to transmitter 28 to signal to detect and singe tothe user when the device is in the small intestine or other location(e.g., by signaling an input from the sensor). Logic resources 29 mayinclude a controller 29 c (either in hardware or software) to controlone or more aspects of the process. The same handheld device can also beconfigured to alert the user when balloon 30 (as well as balloons 52 and60) has been expanded and the selected medication 100 delivered (e.g.,using processor 29 and transmitter 28). In this way, the user isprovided confirmation that medication 100 has been delivered. Thisallows the user to take other appropriate drugs/therapeutic agents aswell as make other related decisions (e.g., for diabetics to eat a mealor not and what foods should be eaten). The handheld device can also beconfigured to send a signal to swallowable device 10 to over-rideisolation valve 50 and so prevent, delay or accelerate the delivery ofmedication 100. In use, such embodiments allow the user to intervene toprevent, delay or accelerate the delivery of medication, based uponother symptoms and/or patient actions (e.g., eating a meal, deciding togo to sleep, exercise etc). The user may also externally expand balloon30 or expandable member 30 at a selected time period after swallowingthe capsule. The time period can be correlated to a typical transit timeor range of transit times for food moving through the user's GI tract toa particular location in the tract such as the small intestine.

Referring now to FIGS. 11A-11B and 16, in various embodiments, thecapsule 20 can include seams 22 comprising biodegradable material whichcontrollably degrade to produce capsule pieces 23 of a selectable sizeand shape to facilitate passage through the GI tract as is shown in theembodiment of FIGS. 11A and 11B. Seams 22 can also include pores orother openings 22 p for ingress of fluids into the seam to acceleratebiodegradation as is shown in the embodiment of FIG. 16. Other means foraccelerating biodegradation of seams 22 can include pre-stressing theseam and/or including perforations 22 f in the seam as is also shown inthe embodiment of FIG. 16.

Referring now to FIGS. 12A-12C, in other embodiments of a swallowabledrug delivery device 10, the device 10 may include one or more pistoncylinder assemblies (PCA) 250 for delivering one or more needles orother tissue penetrating members (TPM) 40 into the intestinal wall. Assuch, in these and related embodiments, the piston cylinder assembly(PCA) comprises the delivery mechanism 70. Typically, the pistoncylinder assembly (PCA) 250 will be positioned substantially inside aballoon such as balloon 260. However, they may be positioned partiallyor even completely outside of balloon 260 or other balloon describedherein. In some embodiments the balloon 260 comprises multiple portions.As shown in FIG. 12A, the balloon 260 comprises two portions, the firstportion comprises a first compartment 265 and the second portioncomprises a second compartment 266 separated by a release valve assembly290. One portion contains a solid reactant 810 such as PotasiumBicarbonate and the other portions contains a liquid reactant 811 suchas citric acid which reacts with the solid reactant to produce a gas 299such as CO₂. The valve assembly 290 comprises an O-ring 270 positionedover a dissovable pinch valve 292 which pinches down and maintains aseal between the two portions 265 and 266 of the balloon 260. Thedissovable valve is fabricated from maltose or other material whichdissolves upon contact with fluid in the small intestine. When thathappens, fluid from one portion of the balloon mixes with the reactantin the other to generate the gas 299 to inflate the balloon 260.

Typically, the PCA 250 is positioned in the portion/compartment of theballoon 260 containing the solid reactants (second compartment 266) andis dimensioned accordingly. In one more dimensional embodiments, theballoon can have a vertical height between about 12 to 16 mm, with apreferred embodiment of 14 mm, while the inner diameter of the balloon260 can be in the range of 18 to 22 mm with preferred embodiment of 20mm. Other dimensions are also contemplated. In various embodiments, allor portion of the PCA 250 is fabricated from materials which candissolvable materials such maltose, or methyl cellulose. It can also befabricated from ABS and other polymers which are inert within the GItract. In specific embodiments, the outer top portion of the piston canbe made of silicone which is mounted on a inner structure, such as apedastal structure which can be made of ABS.

As shown in FIG. 12A, when uninflated, the PCA 250 is positionedsideways (horizontally) within the balloon 260 (with respect to thelengthwise axis of the balloon), but when the balloon 260 is inflatedthe PCA 250 re-orients itself to a vertical position as shown in FIG.12B. This reorientation can be achieved by virtue of conformation/shapechanges once the balloon 260 is inflated as well as by means of anadhesive or other joint 269 attached the PCA 250 to the balloon wall 261which can be configured to exert a force on the PCA 250 to bias it intoa vertical orientation (i.e., the joint is made when the PCA 250 is in avertical position and then the PCA is put into a horizontal position).The joint 269 may comprise various elastic materials known in the artincluding silicone. The PCA comprises a piston 252 and piston rod 253which are positioned inside a cylinder 251 (aka piston cylinder). Theneedle or TPM 40 sits above the piston rod 253 within a needle lumen 230which is continuous with the piston cylinder. The needle lumen can alsoinclude a covering 231 (herein needle lumen covering) which can comprisea foil or polymer film. The ratio in diameter between the piston andpiston rod can be selected to result in desired pressure concentrationeffect (e.g., 2:1, 3:1, etc) from the decrease in surface area. AnO-ring 271 is positioned between the piston 252 and the piston cylinder251 to maintain a seal between the piston 252 and the wall of the pistoncylinder 251. Also, a pressure sensitive release 235 is positionedinside the cylinder 251 to keep the piston 252 in place until desiredpressure (also referred to as a pressure threshold) has built up (e.g.,5 to psi 20 psi, more preferrably 8 to 10 psi) inside balloon 260. Therelease 235 may correspond to a tab, latch or an O-ring. In use, thisrelease serves to assure that there is sufficient pressure within theballoon to drive the needle 40 a desired depth into the wall of thesmall intestine (IW).

When the valve separating the two portions (265 and 266) of the balloon260 dissolves and the balloon begins to inflate, the PCA 250 re-orientsitself from a horizontal to vertical orientation as described above.Then, when the pressure in the balloon 260 exceeds the release pressureof the release tab, the piston rod advances against the needle (or otherTPM) to force the needle 40 out of the needle lumen 230 and into thewall of the small intestine. Once the needle passes through the needlelumen into the intestinal wall, the balloon 260 then deflates via thenow open needle lumen. After needle deployment, the PCA 250 eitherdissolves or passes harmlessly through the GI tract.

In one or more embodiments, the delivery mechanism 70 can comprise aarray 350 of the PCAs (multiple needle PCA) that can be configured forthe delivery of multiple needles 40 (or other TPM) as shown in FIG. 12C.In these and related embodiments, the PCAs can include a commoninflation manifold 357 coupled to multiple needle lumens 330 via centrallumen 358 at one end and to the balloon 359 at the other. Variousembodiments of a multiple needle PCA 350 can be configured to deliverfrom 2 to 6 needles or more. Each needle may contain the same ordifferent drug or other therapeutic agent.

As described above, deflation of the delivery balloon 260 occurs throughthe needle lumen once the needle has been delivered into tissue with noadditional means for balloon deflation needed. Referring now to FIG.12D, in alternative embodiments, the delivery balloon 260 may alsoinclude a separate deflation valve assembly 280 which serves as backupor secondary means for deflation in addition to the needle lumen 230. Asshown in FIG. 12D, the deflation valve assembly comprises an O-ring 272positioned over a dissolvable pinch valve 281 which pinches down an openend of the delivery balloon 260. The valve includes a dissolvable bodyportion made of maltose or other similar material as the release valveand an outer coating such as methyl cellulose. The outer coating 283 isconfigured to take a substantially longer time to dissolve than thedissolvable valve in the release valve assembly such that the deflationvalve is not accuated for periods of 10 minutes or longer (preferrably20) after the release valve is accuated. This is to assure thatdeflation valve is not accuated until well after the needle has beenadvanced into the intestinal wall.

Referring now to FIG. 13A-13B, in one or more embodiments of theswallowable device, the delivery balloon 460 can include an assemblyconfigured to both control pressure at which the needle is advanced outof the balloon and into the intestinal wall as well as assure thatballoon deflates by means of puncture. The assembly can include a lowerportion 463 to which one or more TPMs (herein also referred to as drugneedle) 40 are attached and an upper portion 464 to which one or morepuncture needles (puncture members) 450 are attached. The upper portionmay include an aperture 430 or opening for the drug needle to beadvanced out of the assembly and into the intestinal wall. Upper portion464 and lower portion 463 may be joined by sidewalls 465. Sidewalls 465may be collapsible to permit portions 464 and 463 to come together.Sidewalls 465 may have enough rigidity to keep the upper portion 464 andlower 463 apart while balloon 460 is not inflating. Sidewalls 465collapse, collapse however under the balloon pressure. The sidewalls maybe weakly bonded to the balloon 460 with weak adhesive 470 such that thesidewalls conform to the balloon until the balloon 460 inflates. Uponinflation of balloon 460, the sidewalls 465 separate from the balloon460. Lower portion 463 may also be bonded to the balloon but withstronger adhesive adhesive 469 The entire assembly is positioned betweenthe balloon and the intestinal wall IW as shown in FIG. 13A.

Upon inflation of the delivery balloon 460, the puncture needles 450 areconfigured to penetrate and puncture the lower portion 463 of thedelivery assembly and the delivery balloon 460 in order to rupture thedelivery balloon. Preferably, the drug needles 40 have a length 401sufficiently longer than the length of the puncture needles 450 l suchthat the drug needle(s) 40 is already on its way out of the assembly andeven into the intestinal wall before the puncture needles 450 makescontact with the lower portion 463 and the balloon 460. According to oneor more embodiments, the drug needle is between 25 to 300% longer thanpuncture needles with specific embodiments, of 50, 75, 100, 150, 200 and250%.

According to one or more embodiments, the lower portion 463 isfabricated from a material which does not allow the puncture needle topenetrate until a desired pressure is reached (e.g., 4 to 20 psi, morepreferrably 8 to 12 psi). This in turn keeps the drug needle from beingcompletely advanced out into the intestinal wall until that desiredpressure is reached. Once the puncture needles 450 penetrate the lowerportion 463, they allow the drug needle 40 to be completely advancedout, while simultaneously puncturing the inflated balloon 460 to ensuredeflation. These and related embodiments provide the benefit of bothcontrolling the pressure at which the drug needle 40 is assuring thatthe balloon is deflated.

FIG. 13B shows the Balloon Inflation Pressure (BIP) 702 and the punctureneedle pressure (PNP) 701, the pressure used to advance the punctureneedles to penetrate balloon 460 and lower portion 463, as timeprogresses. The PNP rises and peaks as the puncture needles begin topenetrate the lower portion 463. Once penetration of the lower portion463 and balloon 460 is complete PNP drops to zero. After the drug needle40 has been fully inserted into the intestinal wall the gas inside theballoon 460 is able to escape out of aperture 430 and BIP drops to zeroas the balloon 460 deflates. In various embodiments, the entire assemblycan be fabricated from various biodegrable or inert polymers know in theart. The pressure at which the lower portion 463 is pentrated can becontrolled by one or more of the thickness and materials for the lowerportion 463. In various embodiments, the lower portion 463 can befabricated from a polymer film including various inert (ABS) and/orbiodegradable polymers films known in the art (e.g., methylcellulose).

According to one or more embodiments, the drug needle or other tissuepenetrating member 40 can be fabricated from methyl cellulose polymers.Such methyl cellulose polymers can include hydroxy methyl cellulose,carboxy methyl cellulose and various polymer thereof. The advantages ofthe use of such methyl cellulose polymers for fabrication of the drugneedle (or other tissue penetrating member) compared to maltose baseddrug needles include little or no sensitivity to humidity duringstorage, reduced wall thickness, smaller needle size with the same drugpayload, and ability to process the needle after fabrication includingprocessing such as grinding, sharpening, sanding and other relatedprocesses. In one or more embodiments, a methyl celluose based drugneedle may have a wall thickness in the range of 0.05 to 0.15 mms with aspecific embodiment of 0.1 mms. Also in one more embodiments, the methylcelluose based drug needle may carry between versus a same sized maltosebased drug needle can carry between 25 150% more drug. In a specificembodiment of a drug needle having an outer diameter of 1.5 mm, themethyl cellulose needle can carry 100% more drug versus a maltose basedneedle.

Referring now to FIGS. 15A-15B and 16, in many embodiments seams 22 canalso be configured and arranged so as to allow capsule 20 to be brokeninto smaller pieces by the inflation of balloon 30 or other expandablemember 30. In particular embodiments, seams 22 can be oriented withrespect to capsule radial perimeter 21, including having a radialpattern 22 rp so as to have the capsule break into halves or otherfractional pieces along its perimeter. Seams 22 may also belongitudinally-oriented with respect to capsule lateral access 201 a tohave the capsule break up into lengthwise pieces.

As alternative or additional approach for breaking up capsule 20 byballoon inflation (or expansion of other expandable member 30), capsule20 can be fabricated from two or more separate joinable pieces 23 j(e.g., radial halves) that are joined at a joint 22 j formed by seams 22(which function as an adhesive joint) as shown in the embodiment of FIG.16. Alternatively, joinable pieces 23 j may be merely joined by amechanical fit such as a snap or press fit.

Suitable materials for seams 22 can include one or more biodegradablematerials described herein such as PGLA, glycolic acid etc. Seams 22 canbe attached to capsule 20 using various joining methods known in thepolymer arts such as molding, hot melt junctions, etc. Additionally forembodiments of capsule 20 which are also fabricated from biodegradablematerials, faster biodegradation of seam 22 can be achieved by one ormore of the following: i) fabricating the seam from a fasterbiodegrading material, ii) pre-stressing the seam, or iii) perforatingthe seam. The concept of using biodegradable seams 22 to producecontrolled degradation of a swallowable device in the GI tract can alsobe applied to other swallowable devices such as swallowable cameras (orother swallowable imaging device) to facilitate passage through the GItract and reduce the likelihood of such a device becoming stuck in theGI tract. Accordingly, embodiments of biodegradable seam 22 can beadapted for swallowable imaging and other swallowable devices.

In still other embodiments, seam 22 can be constructed of materialsand/or have a structure which is readily degraded by absorption ofultrasound energy, e.g. high frequency ultrasound (HIFU), allowing thecapsule to be degraded into smaller pieces using externally orendoscopically (or other minimally invasive method) administeredultrasound.

Another aspect of the invention provides methods for the delivery ofdrugs and other therapeutic agents (in the form of medication 100) intothe walls of the GI tract using one or more embodiments of swallowabledrug delivery device 10. An exemplary embodiment of such a method willnow be described. The described embodiment of drug delivery occurs inthe small intestine SI. However, it should be appreciated that this isexemplary and that embodiments of the invention can be used fordelivering drug in a number of locations in the GI tract including thestomach and the large intestine. For ease of discussion, the swallowabledrug delivery device 10 will sometimes be referred to herein as acapsule. As described above, in various embodiments device 10 may bepackaged as a kit 14 within sealed packaging 12 that includes device 10and a set of instructions for use 15. If the patient is using a handhelddevice 13, the patient may instructed to enter data into device 13either manually or via a bar code 18 (or other identifying indicia 18)located on the instructions 15 or packaging 12. If a bar code is used,the patient would scan the bar code using a bar code reader 19 on device13. After opening packaging 12, reading the instructions 15 and enteringany required data, the patient swallows an embodiment of the swallowabledrug delivery device 10. Depending upon the drug, the patient may takethe device 10 in conjunction with a meal (before, during or after) or aphysiological measurement such as a blood glucose measurement. Capsule20 is sized to pass through the GI tract and travels through thepatient's stomach S and into the small intestine SI through peristalticaction as is shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1E. Once the capsule 10 isin the small intestine, coatings 20 c′ and 20 c″ are degraded by thebasic pH in the small intestine (or other chemical or physical conditionunique to the small intestine) causing expansion of balloon 30, 60 and72 or deliver medication 100 into the wall of the small intestine SIaccording to one or more embodiments of the invention.

After medication delivery, device 10 then passes through the intestinaltract including the large intestine LI and is ultimately excreted. Forembodiments having a tearable capsule, the capsule may immediately bebroken into smaller pieces by inflation of balloon 30. For embodimentsof the capsule 20 having biodegradable seams 22 or other biodegradableportions, the capsule is degraded in the intestinal tract into smallerpieces, to facilitate passage through and excretion from the intestinaltract. In particular embodiments having biodegradable tissue penetratingneedles/members 40, should the needle get stuck in the intestinal wall,the needle biodegrades releasing the capsule 20 from the wall.

For embodiments of device 10 including a sensor 97, expansion of balloon30 or other expandable member 30 can be effectuated by the sensorsending a signal to a controllable embodiment of isolation valve 50and/or a processor 29/controller 29 c coupled to the isolation valve 50.For embodiments of device 10 including external actuation capability,the user may externally expand balloon 30 (as well as balloons 52 and60) at a selected time period after swallowing the capsule. The timeperiod can be correlated to a typical transit time (e.g., 30 minutes) orrange of transit times (e.g., 10 minutes to 2 hrs) for food movingthrough the user's GI tract to a particular location in the tract suchas the small intestine.

One or more embodiments of the above methods can be used for thedelivery of preparations 100 containing therapeutically effectiveamounts of a variety of drugs and other therapeutic agents 101 to treata variety of diseases and conditions. These include a number of largemolecule peptides and proteins which would otherwise require injectiondue to chemical breakdown in the stomach, e.g., growth hormone,parathyroid hormone, insulin, interferons and other like compounds.Suitable drugs and other therapeutic agents which can be delivered byembodiments of the invention include various chemotherapeutic agents(e.g., interferon), antibiotics, antivirals, insulin and relatedcompounds, glucagon like peptides (e.g., GLP-1, exenatide), parathyroidhormones, growth hormones (e.g., IFG and other growth factors),anti-seizure agents (e.g., Furosimide), antimigraine medication(sumatriptan), immune suppression agents (e.g., cyclosporine) andanti-parasitic agents such as various anti-malarial agents. The dosageof the particular drug can be titrated for the patient's weight, age orother parameter. Also the drug 101 to achieve a desired or therapeuticeffect (e.g., insulin for blood glucose regulation, Furosimide foranti-seizure) can be less than the amount required should the drug havebeen delivered by conventional oral delivery (e.g., a swallowable pillthat is digested in the stomach and absorbed through the wall of thesmall intestine). This is due to the fact that there is no degradationof the drug by acid and other digestive fluids in the stomach and thefact that all, as opposed to only a portion of the drug is deliveredinto the wall of the small intestine (or other lumen in thegastro-intestinal tract, e.g., large intestine, stomach, etc.).Depending upon the drug 101, the dose 102 delivered in preparation 100can be in the range from 100 to 5% of a dose delivered by conventionaloral delivery means to achieve a desired therapeutic effect (e.g., bloodglucose regulation, seizure regulation, etc.) with even lower amountscontemplated. The particular dose reduction can be titrated based uponthe particular drug, the condition to be treated, and the patient'sweight, age and condition. For some drugs (with known levels ofdegradation in the intestinal tract) a standard dose reduction can beemployed (e.g., 10 to 20%). Larger amounts of dose reduction can be usedfor drugs which are more prone to degradation and poor absorption. Inthis way, the potential toxicity and other side effects (e.g., gastriccramping, irritable bowel, hemorrhage, etc.) of a particular drug ordrugs delivered by device 10 can be reduced because the ingested dose islowered. This in turn, improves patient compliance because the patienthas reduction both in the severity and incidence of side effects.Additional benefits of embodiments employing dose reduction of drug 101include a reduced likelihood for the patient to develop a tolerance tothe drug (requiring higher doses) and, in the case of antibiotics, forthe patient to develop resistant strains of bacteria. Also, other levelsof dose reduction can be achieved for patients undergoing gastric bypassoperations and other procedures in which sections of the small intestinehave been removed or its working (e.g., digestive) length effectivelyshortened.

In addition to delivery of a single drug, embodiments of swallowabledrug delivery device 10 and methods of their use can be used to delivera plurality of drugs for the treatment of multiple conditions or for thetreatment of a particular condition (e.g., protease inhibitors fortreatment HIV AIDs). In use, such embodiments allow a patient to forgothe necessity of having to take multiple medications for a particularcondition or conditions. Also, they provide a means for facilitatingthat a regimen of two or more drugs is delivered and absorbed into thesmall intestine and thus, the blood stream, at about the same time. Dueto difference in chemical makeup, molecular weight, etc., drugs can beabsorbed through the intestinal wall at different rates, resulting indifferent pharmacokinetic distribution curves. Embodiments of theinvention address this issue by injecting the desired drug mixtures atsubstantially the same time. This in turn, improves the pharmacokineticsand thus the efficacy of the selected mixture of drugs. Additionally,eliminating the need to take multiple drugs is particularly beneficialto patients who have one or more long term chronic conditions includingthose who have impaired cognitive or physical abilities.

In various applications, embodiments of the above methods can be used todeliver preparations 100 including drugs and therapeutic agents 101 toprovide treatment for a number of medical conditions and diseases. Themedical conditions and diseases which can be treated with embodiments ofthe invention can include without limitation: cancer, hormonalconditions (e.g., hypo/hyper thyroid, growth hormone conditions),osteoporosis, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol andtriglyceride, diabetes and other glucose regulation disorders, infection(local or septicemia), epilepsy and other seizure disorders,osteoporosis, coronary arrhythmia's (both atrial and ventricular),coronary ischemia anemia or other like condition. Still other conditionsand diseases are also contemplated.

In many embodiments, the treatment of the particular disease orcondition can be performed without the need for injecting the drug orother therapeutic agent (or other non-oral form of delivery such assuppositories) but instead, relying solely on the therapeutic agent(s)that is delivered into the wall of the small intestine or other portionof the GI tract. For example, diabetes or another glucose regulationdisorder can be treated (e.g., by controlling blood glucose levels)solely through the use of insulin that is delivered into the wall of thesmall intestine without the need for the patient to ever inject insulin.Similarly, the patient need not take conventional oral forms of a drugor other therapeutic agent, but again rely solely on delivery into thewall of the small intestine using embodiments of the swallowablecapsule. In other embodiments, the therapeutic agent(s) delivered intothe wall of the small intestine can be delivered in conjunction with aninjected dose of the agent(s). For example, the patient may take a dailydose of insulin or compound for blood glucose regulation using theembodiments of the swallowable capsule, but only need take an injecteddose every several days or when the patient's condition requires it(e.g., hyperglycemia). The same is true for therapeutic agents that aretraditionally delivered in oral form (e.g., the patient can take theswallowable capsule and take the conventional oral form of the agent asneeded). The dosages delivered in such embodiments (e.g., the swallowedand injected dose) can be titrated as needed (e.g., using standard doseresponse curve and other pharmacokinetic methods can be used todetermine the appropriate dosages). Also, for embodiments usingtherapeutic agents that can be delivered by conventional oral means, thedose delivered using embodiments of the swallowable capsule can betitrated below the dosage normally given for oral delivery of the agentsince there is little or no degradation of the agent within the stomachor other portion of the intestinal tract (herein again standard doseresponse curve and other pharmacokinetic methods can be applied).

Various groups of embodiments of preparation 100 containing one or moredrugs or other therapeutic agents 101 for the treatment of variousdiseases and conditions will now be described with references todosages. It should be appreciated that these embodiments, including theparticular therapeutic agents and the respective dosages are exemplaryand the preparation 100 can comprise a number of other therapeuticagents described herein (as well as those known in the art) that areconfigured for delivery into a luminal wall in the intestinal tract(e.g., the small intestinal wall) using various embodiments of device10. The dosages can be larger or smaller than those described and can beadjusted using one or more methods described herein or known in the art.In one group of embodiments, therapeutic agent preparation 100 cancomprise a therapeutically effective dose of insulin for the treatmentof diabetes and other glucose regulation disorders. The insulin can behuman or synthetically derived as is known in the art. In oneembodiment, preparation 100 can contain a therapeutically effectiveamount of insulin in the range of about 1-10 units (one unit being thebiological equivalent of about 45.5 μg of pure crystalline insulin),with particular ranges of 2-4, 3-9, 4-9, 5-8 or 6-7. The amount ofinsulin in the preparation can be titrated based upon one or more of thefollowing factors (herein, then “glucose control titration factors”): i)the patient's condition (e.g., type 1 vs. type II diabetes; ii) thepatients previous overall level of glycemic control; iii) the patient'sweight; iv) the patient's age; v) the frequency of dosage (e.g., oncevs. multiple times a day); vi) time of day (e.g., morning vs. evening);vii) particular meal (breakfast vs. dinner); viii) content/glycemicindex of a particular meal (e.g., meals having a high fat/lipid andsugar content (which tend to cause a rapid rise in blood sugar and thushave a higher glycemic index) vs. low fat and sugar content that do not(and thus have a lower glycemic index)); and ix) content of thepatient's overall diet (e.g., amount of sugars and other carbohydrates,lipids and protein consumed daily).

In another group of embodiments, therapeutic agent preparation 100 cancomprise a therapeutically effective dose of one or more incretins forthe treatment of diabetes and other glucose regulation disorders. Suchincretins can include Glucacon like peptides 1 (GLP-1) and theiranalogues, and Gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP). Suitable GLP-1analogues include exenatide, liraglutide, albiglutide and taspoglutideas well as their analogues, derivatives and other functionalequivalents. In one embodiment preparation 100 can contain atherapeutically effective amount of exenatide in the range of about 1-10μg, with particular ranges of 2-4, 4-6, 4-8 and 8-10 μg respectively. Inanother embodiment, preparation 100 can contain a therapeuticallyeffective amount of liraglutide in the range of about 1-2 mg(milligrams), with particular ranges of 1.0 to 1.4, 1.2 to 1.6 and 1.2to 1.8 mg respectively. One or more of the glucose control titrationfactors can be applied to titrate the dose ranges for exenatide,liraglutide or other GLP-1 analogue or incretin.

In yet another group of embodiments, therapeutic agent preparation 100can comprise a combination of therapeutic agents for the treatment ofdiabetes and other glucose regulation disorders. Embodiments of such acombination can include therapeutically effective doses of incretin andbiguanide compounds. The incretin can comprise one or more GLP-1analogues described herein, such as exenatide and the biguanide cancomprise metformin (e.g., that available under the Trademark ofGLUCOPHAGE manufactured by Merck Sante S.A.S.) and its analogues,derivatives and other functional equivalents. In one embodiment,preparation 100 can comprise a combination of a therapeuticallyeffective amount of exenatide in the range of about 1-10 μg and atherapeutically effective amount of metformin in a range of about 1 to 3grams. Smaller and larger ranges are also contemplated with one or moreof the glucose control titration factors used to titrate the respectivedose of exenatide (or other incretin) and metformin or other biguanide.Additionally, the dosages of the exenatide or other incretin andmetformin or other biguanide can be matched to improve the level ofglucose control for the patient (e.g., maintenance of blood glucosewithin normal physiological levels and/or a reduction in the incidenceand severity of instances of hyperglycemia and/or hypoglycemia) forextended periods of time ranging from hours (e.g., 12) to a day tomultiple days, with still longer periods contemplated. Matching ofdosages can also be achieved by use of the glucose control regulationfactors as well as monitoring of the patient's blood glucose levels forextended periods using glycosylated hemoglobin (known as hemoglobin A1c,HbA1c, A1C, or Hb1c) and other analytes and measurements correlative tolong term average blood glucose levels.

In still yet another group of embodiments, therapeutic agent preparation100 can comprise a therapeutically effective dose of growth hormone forthe treatment of one or more growth disorders, as well as wound healing.In one embodiment, preparation 100 can contain a therapeuticallyeffective amount of growth hormone in the range of about 0.1-4 mg, withparticular ranges of 0.1-1, 1-4, 1-2 and 2-4, with still larger rangescontemplated. The particular dose can be titrated based on one or moreof the following: i) the particular condition to be treated and itsseverity (e.g., stunted growth, vs. wound healing); ii) the patient'sweight; iii) the patient's age; and iv) the frequency of dosage (e.g.,daily vs. twice daily).

In still yet another group of embodiments, therapeutic agent preparation100 can comprise a therapeutically effective dose of parathyroid hormonefor the treatment osteoporosis or a thyroid disorder. In one embodiment,preparation 100 can contain a therapeutically effective amount ofparathyroid hormone in the range of about 1-40 μg, with particularranges of 10-20, 20-30, 30-40 and 10-40 μg, with still larger rangescontemplated. The particular dose can be titrated based on one or moreof the following: i) the particular condition to be treated and itsseverity (e.g., the degree of osteoporosis as determined by bone densitymeasurements); ii) the patient's weight; iii) the patient's age; and iv)the frequency of dosage (e.g., daily vs. twice daily).

The foregoing description of various embodiments of the invention hasbeen presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Manymodifications, variations and refinements will be apparent topractitioners skilled in the art. For example, embodiments of the devicecan be sized and otherwise adapted for various pediatric and neonatalapplications as well as various veterinary applications. Also thoseskilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no morethan routine experimentation, numerous equivalents to the specificdevices and methods described herein. Such equivalents are considered tobe within the scope of the present invention and are covered by theappended claims below.

Elements, characteristics, or acts from one embodiment can be readilyrecombined or substituted with one or more elements, characteristics oracts from other embodiments to form numerous additional embodimentswithin the scope of the invention. Moreover, elements that are shown ordescribed as being combined with other elements, can, in variousembodiments, exist as standalone elements. Hence, the scope of thepresent invention is not limited to the specifics of the describedembodiments, but is instead limited solely by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A swallowable device for delivering a therapeuticagent preparation into an intestinal wall of a patient's intestinaltract, the swallowable device comprising: a swallowable capsule sized topass through the intestinal tract, the capsule having a capsule wall, aleast a portion of which degrades upon exposure to a selected pH in anintestine while protecting the capsule wall from degradation in astomach of the patient; at least one expandable member assembly disposedwithin the capsule comprising a first compartment in at least apartially non-expanded state and a second compartment in at least apartially non-expanded state, the first and second compartments beingfluidically separated by a degradable valve which degrades upon exposureto fluid in the intestinal tract; a liquid contained in one of thecompartments; a reactant contained in the other compartment, whereinwhen the valve degrades, the liquid and the reactant mix to produce agas which expands at least the second compartment; a delivery mechanismcoupled to second compartment the delivery mechanism comprising at leastone piston-cylinder assembly; and at least one tissue penetrating membercomprising: a. a proximal portion detachably coupled to the deliverymechanism; and b. a tissue penetrating distal portion; c. and atherapeutic agent preparation for delivery into the intestinal wall, thetissue penetrating member configured to be retained in the intestinalwall; and wherein upon expansion of the second compartment the at leastone tissue penetrating member is advanced into the intestinal wall bythe delivery mechanism where it is retained in the intestinal wall so asto deliver the therapeutic agent into the intestine.